China Direct

Brand China - UK Company WPP launches key report on Chinese brands

 

[Image courtesy of www.wpp.com]

Commissioned by CBI member WPP, the annual BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Chinese Brands ranking was released earlier this week by Millward Brown.

Combining both financial data and consumer opinion gathered from interviews with over 35,000 Chinese consumers, the BrandZ China Top 50 is one of the most robust rankings of Chinese brands available.

Key trends emerging from the BrandZ China Top 50 study include:

     • China's shift from maker to innovator
     • The phenomenal rise of online and FMCG brands
     • Rising incomes and a rapidly expanding middle class
     • Consumers becoming increasingly brand-savvy

In 2011, the value of the Top 50 Chinese brands has grown by 16% to reach $325 billion, representing more than 5% of the Chinese economy. The top five brands in this year's ranking are as follows: China Mobile, ICBC, Construction Bank of China, Bank of China, and Agricultural Bank of China.

Please click here to read the full press release by WPP's Millward Brown and here to access the full report.

UK-China 2011Trade Statistics - room for improvement

[Image courtesy of www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk]

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in Beijing has kindly prepared an overview of the latest UK-China trade and investment statistics.

Highlights include:

UK imports of goods from China (Jan-Aug 2011): £18.6 billion.

UK exports of goods to China: £5.5 billion.

Total trade volume of goods between China and the UK: £24.1 billion. 

Total 2010 UK-China trade volume in services: £3.374 billion.

The UK exported £2.131 billion worth of services to China.

China exported £1.243 billion worth of services to the UK.

UK was China's top source of foreign direct investment (FDI) from the EU in 2010.

The UK's FDI into China reached $1.62 billion in 2010, up 10% over the previous year. 

The UK was the fourth largest destination for China's direct investment in the EU in 2010.

China's outbound foreign direct investment in the UK reached  $330.33 million in 2010.

As of the end of August 2011, there were eight Chinese companies listed on the LSE main market, with a total market value of £15.6 billion.

There were 43 Chinese companies listed on the LSE AIM, with a total market capitalisation of £3.5 billion.

Please click here to read the full overview by UKTI.

Amazon expands in China

 

[Image courtesy of www.amazon.com]

Leading global e-commerce company and CBI member Amazon.com, Inc. recently opened a new order-fulfillment centre in China.

Located near Shanghai in eastern China's Jiangsu province, the new centre is Amazon's largest fulfillment facility outside the U.S., occupying a space of more than 120,000 square metres.

Following the launch of the new centre, customers in Shanghai and the nearby provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui now enjoy access to a greater selection of products and faster delivery times.

Please read more here.

CBI Member China Success Stories Oct 2011

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

The CBI has tracked more than 15 CBI member companies and their successes in China for October 2011.

Kindly refer to the attachment below for more information.

If we have missed out your company then my apologies - please let CBI China know of your latest news and we will circulate it via our member network in China and internationally.

Thank you very much for your ongoing support of China Direct.

Download CBI China, Member Success Stories, October 2011

European Business in China - 2011/2 Position Paper launch

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.euccc.com.cn]

Yesterday, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) released its 2011/2012 Position Paper, which provides an overview of the views of many European companies doing business in China.

The Position Paper is the product of six months of consultation, which involved hundreds of companies and individuals from European businesses operating across China.

The report includes chapters on a wide range of sectors, including aviation, construction, information and communication technology, logistics, maritime transport, travel, banking & securities, insurance, private equity, etc.

The report also includes chapters on numerous cities and regions across China, including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, the Pearl River Delta, Shanghai, Shenyang and Tianjin.

Highlights from the 2011/2012 Position Paper include:

     • China's strategic importance for global companies is rapidly increasing.
     • Key goals outlined in China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) such as upgrading the industrial 
       sector, developing the service sector and encouraging innovation and green development match the 
       strengths of European companies in managerial know-how, the provision of services and green 
       and advanced technology.
     • The Position Paper brings together a significant number of recommendations for both Chinese and 
       European policymakers.

The CBI, together with the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) , is organising the launch of the Position Paper in London on 22 September, which will be hosted by leading global insurance broker and CBI member Willis Group.

Pleease click here to read the Executive Summary of the Position Paper and here to access the full report.

Huawei announces new global cyber security chief

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.huawei.com]

Leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider and CBI member Huawei announced the appointment of John Suffolk as its Global Cyber Security Officer (GCSO) earlier this week.

Mr. Suffolk previously served as the Chief Information Officer of the UK Government, overseeing government IT projects for nearly five years.

Assuming his new position on 01 October, Mr. Suffolk will be based at Huawei's headquarters in Shenzhen in southern China and will report directly to Huawei's CEO. He will hold responsibility for developing Huawei's cyber security assurance strategy and system and managing and supervising its implementation. The system will be adopted globally by all business groups and departments, including R&D, supply chain, marketing and sales, project delivery and technical service.

Commenting on Mr. Suffolk's appointment, Ken Hu, Deputy Chairman of the Board and Chairman of Huawei's Global Cyber Security Committee, said, "We are delighted to welcome John Suffolk to Huawei. With convergence of the ICT industry, Huawei is expanding its business beyond its traditional operator market to meet the communications need of both enterprises and consumers.

Industry convergence will also expand the complexity of cyber security challenges, and Huawei is fully committed to addressing the emerging challenges of tomorrow together with our customers. Mr. Suffolk has a wealth of experience and expertise in dealing with cyber security issues with deep insights into emerging global cyber security trends.

This will enhance Huawei’s capabilities in addressing security challenges, and further support our proven track record and reputation among customers in an increasingly complex environment."

Please click here to read the full press release by Huawei and here for further media coverage.

China Direct would like to thank Ben Cooper of the CBI's Beijing office for preparing this information.  

CBI Member BT in ZTE China tie up

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.bt.com]

Earlier this month, CBI member BT and Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE Corporation announced the launch of a major new research partnership, which will explore next-generation fixed line, wireless and mobile telecommunications research.

Commenting on the new partnership, BT CIO Clive Selley said, "This is another example of BT's commitment to open innovation—combining with outstanding partners, customers and academic bodies to develop exciting new services and constantly improve the customer experience. We've been very impressed with the knowledge and sophistication of ZTE's team and, by combining our complementary strengths and expertise on a range of research projects, we expect this partnership to be very fruitful for both ourselves and our respective customers."

Xie Daxiong, EVP and CTO at ZTE, stated, "BT's UK and global experience and resources are a great match for ZTE's leadership in key fixed, wireless and device technologies, and we look forward to a close and effective research relationship."

Please click here to read BT's press release.

China Direct would like to thank Ben Cooper at the CBI Beijing office for this contibution.

2011 European Business Confidence Survey - China - Headlines

 

 

Yesterday, the European Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) released the results of its 2011 Business Confidence Survey.

The EUCCC achieved a record response rate of 44% of its members, with nearly 600 European companies having completed the survey. The Chamber identified the following three key messages arising from the results of its survey:

     1. China is an increasingly strategic market.
     2. Competition in China is increasing.
     3. Companies are concerned about China's regulatory environment.

Other key highlights include:

     • 79% of respondents have an optimistic business outlook for growth in China.
     • 59% of respondents are planning new China investments, up from 48%.
     • 78% of respondents reported an increase in revenue over last year.

Please click here to read the full EUCCC Business Confidence Survey and here and here for additional media coverage.

China Direct would like to thank Ben Cooper of the CBI's Beijing office for preparing this summary.

Stop Press - 2011 EU China Business Confidence Survey

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.europeanchamber.com.cn]

The findings of the annual EUCCC business confidence survey will be circulated tomorrow, Wednesday 25th May 2011.

China Direct will be attending the official Survey Launch event in Beijing and looks forward to sharing with members key headlines and observations shortly.

EUCCC Business Confidence Survey

Background:

Since 2004, the European Chamber has conducted an annual survey of member companies to monitor their views on the business environment and gather their opinions on trade and investment in China.

The European Chamber Business Confidence Survey 2011 is once again produced in partnership with Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, and draws on feedback from nearly 600 European companies – the highest participation rate ever.

This year's survey offers insight on European business confidence in the Chinese market at a time of impressive growth, rising competition, and the release of China’s 12th Five Year Plan.
 
The results – the most comprehensive and wide-ranging set of data yet gathered for this annual survey – will provide the most up-to-date and in-depth analysis on sentiment among European businesses about the Chinese business environment.

This information will have important implications for Chinese and European policy-makers, businesses, organizations as well as the general public.

China's Twelfth Five Year Plan (2011-2015) - the Full English Version

 

The Delegation of the European Union in China has very kindly prepared a full English translation of China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015).

In mid-March 2011, the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, approved the new Five-Year Plan (FYP).

China's FYPs are blueprints which outline key economic and development targets for the country for the next five-year period.

This is essential reading for businesses seeking to either expand their existing China operations or position themselves in the market for the first time.

To download the full translation of the current FYP please click below:

Download Full translation 5 Yr Plan 2011-2015