Andrea Jung, Avon’s Chairman and CEO

U.S. direct seller and cosmetics giant, Avon, will open a new regional Research and Development centre in Shanghai, with the aim to strengthen its commitment to the market of the People’s Republic of China. The new facility will be Avon’s largest R&D centre outside of the U.S.

According to Avon, the stand-alone 40,000 square.-feet (more than 12,000 square-metres) building will span six floors and have additional capacity to expand Avon’s overall scientific capabilities in China and Asia. It will house scientific experts in the areas of product development, safety and quality testing, microbiology, chemical engineering and consumer research.

The centre, which is expected to open in late 2010, will primarily serve China but also support other markets in the Asia Pacific region, while reporting directly to the Global R&D Centre located in Suffern, N.Y., (near New York City).