Seoul, Korea — LG Electronics, a leader in consumer electronics and mobile communications, has announced the opening of its new European Design Centre in Covent Garden, London, UK. The facilities were formally opened by HRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, in a ceremony attended by leading members of local government and the UK’s design community.

The Duke of York, who also opened LG’s European headquarters in Slough, UK last year, attended in his role as the Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.

The Duke of York stated: “The UK has long proven itself to be a strong, positive environment for the creative industries, as well as a European base for many multi-national businesses. We are seeing growing investment by companies such as LG in design facilities here and they are very welcome. LG could have chosen any of several global cities for this centre. That they chose London is tremendous news for the UK and testament to the world-class business environment we`re creating here.”

The purpose of LG’s new Design Centre is to create European designs based on European consumers’ requirements. The designers will also be called upon to adapt products that will appeal to the European market, but which have been developed elsewhere.

The opening of the Centre also reflects LG’s new business strategy, with increased investment into research and development feeding into regional design capabilities. LG will be investing over US$4.8 million into design programs in Europe in 2008 alone. The first fully European designed product, a mobile handset, is to be unveiled this August.