ABB increases investment to actively cultivate local technicians

Chongqing, China, June 23, 2009 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, today joined with Chongqing Mechanism Technician College to launch a new “Technician Class for Applicable Technology of Power Engineering” program to cultivate workers with advanced technical skills. ABB has cooperated with the local vocational school for three consecutive years. Through its partnerships with local schools in Chongqing and other cities and the expansion of its educational efforts, ABB integrates the development of local technicians with the talent demands of enterprises. This training model has proven capable of developing skilled workers to make up the shortage in the labor market.

Bernd Muehe, Senior Vice President of ABB China, spoke at the signing ceremony: “since entering China, ABB has always supported education and the cultivation of all levels of qualified Chinese technicians to master practical skills. Supporting education rests at the core of our corporate strategy. Despite the difficult global economic environment, ABB will not reduce our support and investment in China’s education but have instead increased our effort in this regard.“

Liao Jian, Principle of Chongqing Mechanism Technician College, added, “we have maintained a strong cooperative relationship with ABB for many years. The program enables us to improve teaching standards and helps our students compete on the job market. As a Fortune 500 Company, ABB has been dedicated to supporting education in China and cultivated a lot of talent for the benefit of society. We should commend ABB for its diligent and conscientious efforts and practical contributions to China’s education.”

According to the contract, ABB will provide financial and faculty support and opportunities for internships to the vocational education program. The first session of the technician class is scheduled to open in September of 2009 with plans to recruit 40 students. The training model for the class will place emphasis on both basic knowledge and enterprise training. During the basic knowledge education period, students will receive basic technical and engineering theoretical courses and undergo field training. Experts from ABB will also deliver classes to the students on a regular basis. After completing the basic courses, excellent students will receive a year of corporate cultural training and internship from ABB. Finally, qualified students will have the chance to be employed by ABB after they pass all the required tests. Meanwhile, ABB will support the technician class by providing many forms of financial supports including “ABB Financial Aid” and “ABB Technician Scholarship”.

ABB has sustainably supported education in China in various forms and actively promoted the development of all types of qualified technicians with practical experience. The cooperation between schools and enterprises has always been a proven model for ABB to cultivate technicians. Beginning in April 2007, ABB partnered with Chongqing Mechanism Technician College to launch the “ABB Class” programs for two consecutive years. ABB also used this training model to establish the “ABB Class” in Xiamen last year. During their studies, ABB not only provides teaching and financial support to the students, but also renders practical field training delivered by ABB experts and internship opportunities. This proven model enables students to gain valuable practical experience, laying a solid foundation for their future careers and winning wide recognition from the employment market.

Since 2005, ABB has donated RMB 1 million annually to the ABB-New Great Wall Foundation to specially finance and support underprivileged university students majoring in the fields of power and automation. To date, ABB has donated over RMB 5 million in total, bringing benefits to over 1,000 college students in 37 universities.

Recently, ABB provided further financial support and scholarship of RMB 410,000 in total to Xiamen University of Technology and Xiamen Technical School to support 140 underprivileged students in the two schools and reward 44 excellent students in Xiamen University of Technology.

At the “ABB Technology Days” event held in November 2008, ABB jointly raised RMB 280,000 for the ABB-New Great Wall Fund for College Students to finance 129 college students from the earthquake areas to complete their studies in Sichuan and Chongqing. On May 12, 2009, the one year anniversary of the Wenchuan Earthquake, ABB once again made donations to support about 20 students from the earthquake-stricken area. In addition, ABB has financed the construction of schools in the disaster area. One of them shall open by the end of 2009, allowing students to continue their studies in the new school.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales and services, with 15,000 employees, 27 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 60 cities.