CHINA (Notifix).- Sweden-based home furnishing giant IKEA Group opened its first wholly owned manufacturing facility in China on Wednesday, through subsidiary IKEA Industry Group, in a bid to support its rapid expansion in Asia - especially China.

 The factory, which will make wooden products, is in Nantong, Jiangsu province, a manufacturing hub for home furnishings and interior decoration material. The factory will supply IKEA stores, mainly in China. With this facility, IKEA now has 43 manufacturing units in 12 countries.  "China is an important market for IKEA and we have a long-term commitment and strategic interest in this market. The role of IKEA Industry is to be better than our external suppliers by creating outstanding customer value in terms of price and quality," said Robert Zanichelli, division manager for flatline, IKEA Industry as registered by the China Daily news outlet.