China Power opens Paris base and appoints Blachais-Catoire

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China Power Duty Free Group has opened a European office, based in Paris, France.

China Power was created earlier this year as a joint venture between China Duty Free Group and Hong Kong-based King Power Group. The new force will dominate the vibrant and fast-growing Chinese duty-free market.

The company said it was opening the European office to "reinforce and facilitate better communication" with suppliers in the region.

"In the future, this office will be the central point for consolidating European business towards China," the company added. "Everything will be done in order to simplify and control the business both in our interests and in the interest of protecting the brands."

Strict control of luxury brands will be central to the China Power approach as it seeks to develop the huge retail potential of the Chinese inbound and outbound travel markets. The new approach will begin with the opening of China's biggest and most sophisticated downtown duty-free shop, due to be opened in Shanghai in September.

Meanwhile, China Power has appointed former Tax Free World Association chief executive Elysabeth Blachais-Catoire as a consultant to the group, based out of the Paris office where she will work with respected China Power Duty Free Group executive Charles Chen.

Blachais-Catoire has many years of experience in the luxury goods industry, particularly the beauty and fashion sectors.