assessment by the judging panel, review by local listed companies' associations, public announcement by the media, and final review by expert judges. Eventually, the winners of the "Golden Round Table Award" and other awards for Chinese listed companies' board of directors were determined.
In recent years, Chairman Cheng BIAN has demonstrated visionary strategic acumen by collaborating with advantageous overseas partners to jointly explore the African market. By the end of 2022, the company had established 6 production bases and 14 production lines in 5 African countries, with an annual tile production exceeding 120 million square meters. In addition, the product range has expanded from single ceramic tiles to sanitary ware, glass, and other major building materials, and the production layout has gradually extended to countries and regions such as South America and Asia.
In 2015, under Chairman BIAN's strategic layout, the company boldly entered the new energy materials, opening lithium-ion battery materials and lithium-ion battery machinery business. In 2017, the company invested in Lake Lithium, venturing into the field of lithium extraction from salt lake brine, thus laying a solid foundation for the company's future stable development.
Simultaneously, for the core business of building materials machinery, Chairman BIAN proposed a "globalization" strategic plan, establishing subsidiaries in India, Turkey, and Italy, and shifting services forward to achieve localized operations. Furthermore, the company took the lead in acquiring ICF & Welko, a prestigious Italian ceramic machinery enterprise, thus advancing into the high-end ceramic machinery market.
As the guiding force for the company's advancement, in recent years, the board of directors of KEDA Industrial Group has undertaken various significant initiatives such as GDR issuance, Employee Stock Ownership Plan , and external investments, all of which have contributed to the expansion of the company's business and project development. Additionally, the company has continuously refined its internal governance system, adhering to the information disclosure and compliance requirements of both the domestic and SIX Swiss Exchange. Moreover, a clear and transparent cash dividend policy has been formulated, and shareholder returns have been consistently enhanced through substantial dividends and share repurchases. The board of directors of KEDA Industrial Group fully grasps its strategic positioning, adhering to the innovative development path of "Prosperity through Science". This approach stimulates internal momentum and enhances growth resilience, further deepening the capital operations of the listed company. After 30 years of development, the company achieved its best historical performance in 2022, with a remarkable revenue of RMB 11.157 billion and a net profit attributable to shareholders of RMB 4.251 billion.
(President Office, Jiasheng XIE/ Securities Legal Affairs Department, Shan HUANG)