In this Jan. 16, 2013 photo, women work at a textile factory in Jiujiang city, in central China's Jiangxi province. China's manufacturing crept higher this month to the fastest pace in two years, a survey showed Thursday, in another sign the world's second-biggest economy is coming out of a downturn. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT
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In this Jan. 16, 2013 photo, women work at a textile factory in Jiujiang city, in central China's Jiangxi province. China's manufacturing crept higher this month to the fastest pace in two years, a survey showed Thursday, in another sign the world's second-biggest economy is coming out of a downturn. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT
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Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang attends his budget speech at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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A protester dressing as Chinese God of Wealth with a mask of Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang, outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, before Tsang's budget speech Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. The protesters demanded government to set up a universal retirement protection scheme for elderly. The slogan reads "500 Billion Hong Kong dollar initial funding" (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Security guards try to stop Hong Kong Legislative Council member Leung Kwok-hung, center, also known as Long Hair, throwing a slogan to Hong Kong Financial Secretary, John Tsang when Tsang delivers his budget speech at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Leung demanded government to set up a universal retirement protection scheme for elderly. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Anti-government protesters, surrounded by police officers, block the main road in downtown, on New Year's Day in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 to call for the resignation of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Several hundred members of a small radical group briefly blocked roads after they were stopped by authorities from marching to Leung's official government residence. At one point, protesters pushed and shoved with police. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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A protester dressed as a Chinese Red Guard with a wolf mask, representing Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, participates in an anti-government march on New Year's Day in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. Thousands of anti-government protesters marched to the government's headquarters to call for Leung's resignation. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Anti-government protesters hit a caricature of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying as thousands of demonstrators march to the government's headquarters on New Year's Day to call for Leung's resignation, in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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An anti-government protester is arrested by police officers as he blocks the main road in downtown, at Central on New Year's Day in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 to call for the resignation of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Several hundred members of a small radical group briefly blocked roads after they were stopped by authorities from marching to Leung's official government residence. At one point, protesters pushed and shoved with police. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Anti-government protesters block the main road in downtown, at Central on New Year's Day in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 to call for the resignation of Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Several hundred members of a small radical group briefly blocked roads after they were stopped by authorities from marching to Leung's official government residence.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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A man walks by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Friday, March 8, 2013. A positive jobs report that pushed the Dow to another record high this week helped boost Asian stock markets on Friday. Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.9 percent to 12,200.45, as a weakening yen boosted export-linked shares. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.9 percent to 22,971.79. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
Lego plans first China factory as Asian sales leap
HONG KONG (AP) —
Lego is building its first factory in China as part of a plan to move production closer to Asia, its fastest growing market.
The Danish maker of colorful plastic building blocks for children said it's investing at least 100 million euros ($130 million) in the new plant. Construction will start in 2014 and it will be fully operational by 2017.
The factory will be located in Jiaxing, 100 kilometers (67 miles) southwest of Shanghai, where Lego is planning an Asian distribution center.
Lego said the new factory will be "a supply base for future growth in Asia." The company said that in recent years sales in the region have grown by more than 50 percent annually.
Chief Operating Officer Bali Padda said the company's strategy is to cut down on time needed for shipping by basing production near its main markets.
Lego predicted the factory, which will have moulding, decoration and packaging facilities, will be able to supply 70 to 80 percent of the toys it sells in Asia in 2017.
The plant will employ 2,000 workers by the time it's fully operational. The company also has factories in Denmark, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Mexico.
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Online: http://aboutus.lego.com/
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