China Direct

Celebrating CBI Member Success in China May 2012

 

Please find attached our monthly briefing “Celebrating CBI member success in China” for May, covering 42 members.

Members covered include:

   

• ABB
• Airbus
• Alliance Boots
• ANZ
• Arup
• Atkins
• Benoy
• Boeing
• Burson-Marsteller
• Cardiff University
• Clifford Chance
• The Coca-Cola Company
• DHL
• Everything Everywhere
• Ford Motor Company
• Foster + Partners
• Fuji Xerox
• Gatwick Airport
• GE
• GKN
• GSK
• Herbert Smith
• HSBC
• IHG
• Jones Lang LaSalle
• King’s College London
• London Stock Exchange
• M&S
• Mott MacDonald
• Newcastle University
• News Corporation
• Nottingham Trent University
• Pfizer
• Philips
• Pinsent Masons
• Rio Tinto
• RBS
• Shell
• Siemens

Download CBI China, Celebrating CBI member success in China, May 2012

 

 

 

2011-12 British Business Climate Survey in China - Summary

 

[Images courtesy of www.cbbc.org and www.britishchamber.cn]

The CBI would like to thank our partners at the CBBC and British Chamber of Commerce in Beijing for sharing the findings of the 2011-12 British Business Climate Survey in China.

The results of the 2012 Business Climate Survey indicate increasing optimism about the outlook for revenue growth in 2012. The survey clearly demonstrates the growing importance of China to many companies as a driver of corporate growth, evidenced by plans to increase investments in China this year.

However, companies continue to acknowledge the complexity of the operating environment, especially in terms of rising labour costs, increasing local competition and the ongoing challenges of IPR & legal enforcement, protectionism and bureaucracy.

 Despite this, most UK companies remain confident about the outlook for their business in China.

 The key messages that arise from this survey are the following:

 

• Despite worries over the global economic outlook and rising domestic competition, performance in 2011 was generally positive with the majority of respondents seeing an increase in revenue.

 

• China remains a key market, with the majority of respondents planning an increase in investment and remaining positive in their expectations for the coming year.

 

• Human resource issues continue to be a substantial challenge for business, with members tackling increasing labour costs and problems attracting and retaining skilled staff.

 

• Whilst domestic competition still struggles to compete in terms of technical innovation and management expertise, they showed significant improvement in marketing and branding.

 

• The key business challenges facing those in the China market continue to be bureaucracy, securing licences and protecting intellectual property.

 

• Despite intellectual property rights being cited as an important factor in China operations, the number of infringements that actually harmed operations was relatively low.

 

To download the full survey please click below:

Download 2012_china_business_climate_survey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GKN driving growth in NE China

 

[Image courtesy of www.gkn.com]

CBI member GKN Driveline has continued to expand its manufacturing footprint in China, highlighted by the recent opening of its seventh production facility in the country.

The new 13,900 square metre plant in Changchun will have the capacity to build one million sideshafts per year, and a new 10,000 square metre expansion of the plant will increase its capacity to four million sideshafts within the next five years.

Forecasting vehicle production in China to reach 15 million units by 2014, GKN Driveline continues to regard China as a key growth market. The company's production capacity for constant velocity joint (CVJ) systems and all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems in China is expected to grow by 50% in the next three years.

GKN is also investing RMB 94 million to expand its research and development centre in Shanghai, which will lead to the development of prototyping facilities, as well as a materials and metrology capability, to allow products to be developed for the Chinese market.

Marc Vuarchex, Managing Director of GKN Driveline Asia Pacific, said, "China is a key market for our overall growth strategy. With our CVJ and AWD systems production along with our industry-leading electric-vehicle technology and plans to produce new, low-cost systems for China's small-car market, we will increase our number of employees by over 30% in China over the next four years."

Please click here to read the full press release by GKN.

Thales flying high with the new C919 in China

 

[Image courtesy www.thales.com]

CBI member Thales and China Electronics Technology Avionics Co., Ltd. (CETCA) signed a joint venture agreement, which will support the integration of the Thales TopSeries system in the cabin of the new C919 aircraft.

Manufactured by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919 will first take flight in 2014, with aircraft deliveries scheduled to begin in 2016. The Thales system will be a scalable platform offering services ranging from interactive audio capability through to full in-seat on-demand services, with an emphasis on minimising weight, cost, and power consumption.

Olivier Guibert, President Thales China and North Asia, said, "The global strength of Thales Group and our investment and growth strategy in partnership with both CETCA and COMAC is a strong combination that will ultimately change the landscape of the civil aerospace marketplace in China. We fully expect that there will be excellent demand for the C919 in China, and we are proud to be part of this business arrangement."

Zeng Li, General Manager of CETCA, stated that the, "C919 programme is just the start. China's civil aviation industry is under fast development, and the partnership with Thales has great potential."
 
Please click here to read the full press release by Thales.

2012 British Business Awards in China - celebrating the best of British

We are looking for the Best of British, is that you?

The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai takes great pleasure in announcing the official launch of the British Business Awards 2012 and invites applications.

The British Business Awards are an awards programme organised by the British Chambers of Commerce in China to recognise and promote excellence in innovation enterprise and endeavour, in the British business community in China. Established in 2008, the awards programme is now held every two years.

Through eight categories, the Awards will showcase organisations and individuals who are achieving outstanding results and who demonstrate the highest level of commitment to Sino-British trade and investment relations in a variety of disciplines in China. The Awards will also recognise the excellent accomplishments of Chinese businesses operating in the UK.

The British Business Awards are open to all majority British Owned companies or organisations operating in China*, Chinese* Alumni of a British Higher Education Institution as well as Chinese* companies or organisations with a presence in the UK.

*mainland China/ Chinese nationals only

Applications are now open and the British Business Awards invites all eligible individuals and organisations to enter. Five finalists in each of the eight categories will be chosen by an independent panel of judges and announced at a Finalists Event in late June. The highlight event of the Awards, a Gala Awards Dinner will take place on the 8th November, when the winners will be announced.

Application deadline is 18th May 2012.

For more information: www.britishbusinessawards.cn or contact admin@britishbusinessawards.cn

The British Business Awards 2012 Awards Categories and sponsors:

• Sustainability Award Sponsored by BP
• Chinese UK Alumnus Award Sponsored by the British Council
• Entrepreneur of the Year Award Sponsored by COSTA
• Innovation Award Sponsored by GKN
• Chinese Investor of the Year Award Sponsored by Hogan Lovells
• Creativity Award Sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover
• Financial & Professional Services Award Sponsored by Manchester Business School
• British Company of the Year Award Sponsored by UK Trade and Investment

    Photos of the launch event can be viewed here.

ABB's 'In China for China' strategy sees good results for 2011

 

[Image courtesy of www.abb.com]

 

CBI member ABB recently announced record results for its performance in China in 2011, reporting record revenue growth of 21%, reaching US$5.1 billion, and record high investment of US$230 million.

ABB enjoyed particular success in areas of its business such as robotics R&D and manufacturing, integrated analytical systems, motors and drives, environmental protection, and renewable energy development. 

In addition, ABB established a joint venture with Guodian Nanjing Automation Co. Ltd. in 2011, marking a milestone for the company's partnership with a key local player. With a total investment of 1.75 billion yuan by the two firms, the new joint venture expands offerings in power grid for the utility, power plant, and industry infrastructure markets.

Commenting on ABB's record results, Claudio Facchin, ABB North Asia and China President, said, "ABB achieves continued solid growth in China despite the economic slowdown in 2011, thanks to the strong market demand for automation and grid reliability.

"Industries demand a higher level of automation to improve energy efficiency, quality, productivity, and operational health and safety. China's 12th Five-Year Plan to migrate from a resource intensive economy to a low carbon and knowledge based economy was taking off.

"ABB was able to support this positive change due to its consistent investment in technology and capacity in China under its 'in China for China' strategy. In the past six years, ABB's average annual investment was more than US$100 million, and the figure rose to a record high last year due to our strategic initiatives to expand presence through partnership with leading local players."

Please click here to read the full press release by ABB.

CBI Member Success Stories March 2012

 

[Image courtesy of www.cbi.org.uk]

A number of CBI members were busy raising their profile in China in March, engaging in many exciting activities across a wide range of industries.

Members covered include: 

• 3i
• ABB
• Atkins
• Bentley
• Boeing
• BNY Mellon
• BP
• Burson-Marsteller
• Clifford Chance
• Diageo
• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
• Fuji Xerox
• GKN
• HSBC
• INEOS
• InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
• Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
• Jones Lang LaSalle
• J.P. Morgan
• Nike
• Pearson
• Penguin
• Pinsent Masons
• Procter & Gamble
• Research in Motion (RIM)
• Shell
• Siemens
• Simmons & Simmons
• Thales
• Unilever
• University of Nottingham
• Willis

Please click here to access our latest briefing, which highlights the recent successes of 32 CBI members.

The briefing can also be accessed below:

Download CBI China, Celebrating CBI member success in China, March 2012

CBI member success stories in China Feb 2012

 

[Image courtesy of www.cbi.org.uk]

February 2012 was a bumper month for CBI members in China with at least 29 (matching the leap day!) confirmed successes that China Direct is aware of.

Member contributions came from:

• ABB
• Accenture
• Alstom
• Arup
• BAA
• BBC
• Benoy
• BMW
• BP
• Burberry
• Clifford Chance
• Devro
• Ernst & Young
• Eversheds
• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
• Herbert Smith
• HSBC
• IHG
• INEOS
• J.P. Morgan
• Pfizer
• McKinsey
• Nike
• RBS
• Standard Chartered
• Thales
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Leeds
• WPP

China Direct would like to say a huge thank you to all of our members for their contributions and also to Ben Cooper at the CBI's Beijing office for patiently collating the information.

Please find our Feb 2012 summary below:

Download CBI China, Celebrating member success in China, February 2012

UK Company Arup's China outreach programme - 'In China For China'

 

 

[Image courtesy of www.arup.com]

A team of engineers from CBI member Arup recently built an Arup-designed bridge in Mixia Village in Yunnan province with student volunteers from the Kunming University of Science and Technology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

As part of Arup's ongoing collaboration with Wu Zhi Qiao Charitable Foundation, the new bridge provides safe journeys for the commuting villagers between Mixia and its surrounding villages and helps improve their livelihood. Prior to the Arup-Wu Zhi Qiao Bridge, locals often had their journeys interrupted by damages to a makeshift bamboo bridge caused by the river flooding.

To withstand the devastating floods, Arup designed a bridge with an impressive 20 metre clear span and a vertical clearance of six metres. To provide durability and longevity, the bridge is constructed out of galvanised steel with rocks and stones from around the site used as counterweights.

Commenting on the project, Freda Chu, Arup Wu Zhi Qiao's project manager, said, "To build a culturally sensitive and highly sustainable bridge, we held a company-wide design competition, and the winning scheme was adopted as the basis for detailed design.

After several site visits, the design was fine-tuned considering the on-site constructability. A small team of volunteers also travelled to steel fabrication and assembly sponsor S-couvrot's factory in Shanghai for a mock-up of the bridge assembly process to ensure smooth construction on site."

Mixia Village is located in the southern part of Yunnan province, close to the China-Vietnam border.

Please click here to read the full press release by Arup.

CBI member China success stories for Jan 2012

 

[Image courtesy of www.cbi.org.uk]

Dear CBI members,

Please find our latest member successes for January 2012. We were aware of more than 16 individual company success stories and are always keen to hear of more wherever possible.

Thank you as always for sharing your success with the CBI in China.

China Direct

Download CBI China, Celebrating member success in China, January 2012