Cochlear Limited
(ASX:COH) faces competition in China after Chinese bionic ear maker Nurotron Biotechnology got the go-ahead to compete with Cochlear for lucrative Chinese government contracts, according to media reports.
Nurotron has been approved to provide implants to children, allowing it to participate in the Chinese government's five-year program, to provide underprivileged children with hearing implants.
Nurotron also says it plans to build a new factory that will be 10 times the size of its existing facility over the next four years.
The companies are expected to compete for a key government tender in August.
Nurotron told the media it has a good chance of winning the contract because the government likes to support Chinese companies.
Cochlear generated a net profit of $77.6 million in the first half of fiscal 2013.
