China Direct

Book Now - UKTI China Regional Cities Programme Q1 2012

 

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

Dear CBI members,

You may have read about the Regional Cities Trade Missions last month on our website however if not please find a summary of China-wide missions for Q1 below.

If you are interested in the Wuhan-Zhengzhou mission scheduled for 20-22 Feb please contact: Zheng.Weiwei@fco.gov.uk Tel: 0086 10 51924406

For your reference the CBI's China office will be attending the Zhengzhou section of the Mission.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) recently released the dates for the next phase of its Regional Cities Programme in China.

The schedule of the missions is as follows: Zhengzhou and Wuhan (20-22 February 2012), Nantong and Yancheng (27-29 February 2012), Kunming (23-24 February 2012), Chongqing (05-06 March 2012), Hangzhou and Ningbo (07-09 March 2012), and Foshan and Shunde (28-29 March 2012).

These missions will offer an excellent introduction to these cities and the opportunities that they offer.

Participants in the missions will enjoy:

     • Access to high-level officials
     • Business workshops
     • Knowledge about specific opportunities

Please click here for full details on the mission to Nantong and Yancheng and here for the mission to Hangzhou and Ningbo.

Date for UK exporters diaries - 29 March 2012 Kunshan Expo

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

The China Chamber of International Commerce and the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government will host the China International Import Expo on 29-31 March at the Kunshan Convention & Exhibition Centre in Jiangsu province.

The Expo will feature approximately 50,000 square metres of exhibition space. Conferences during the Expo will include an international summit forum, seminars and lectures, and new product recommendation which will give exhibitors the opportunity to introduce their products and services to Chinese importers and end users.

The Expo will primarily exhibit products and technologies in the following sectors: machinery & equipment, information technology, environmentally-friendly products, new materials, & other high-tech products, and brand consumer goods.

Please click here for full details on the Expo. If you have any other queries please contact the UKTI team in Shanghai here.

It's snowing in Hangzhou and Wenzhou - thanks to SAB Miller!

 

[Image courtesy of www.sabmiller.com]

 

CBI member SABMiller recently announced that China Resources Snow Breweries Limited (CR Snow), its joint venture with China Resources Enterprise Limited (CRE), is launching a trial of SABMiller's international premium brand, Miller Genuine Draft, in Zhejiang province.

Following a launch event held in Hangzhou on 16 January, Miller Genuine Draft is now initially available in Hangzhou and Wenzhou.

Ari Mervis, SABMiller's Managing Director, Asia Pacific, said, "This is an exciting opportunity to introduce one of our international brands into the fast-growing premium segment in China in a way which takes advantage of CR Snow's strong market position in the region."

Please click here to read the full press release by SABMiller and here for additional media coverage.

2012 China Regional Cities Programme Q1

 

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

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) recently released the dates for the next phase of its Regional Cities Programme in China.

The schedule of the missions is as follows: Zhengzhou and Wuhan (20-22 February 2012), Nantong and Yancheng (27-29 February 2012), Kunming (23-24 February 2012), Chongqing (05-06 March 2012), Hangzhou and Ningbo (07-09 March 2012), and Foshan and Shunde (28-29 March 2012).

These missions will offer an excellent introduction to these cities and the opportunities that they offer.

Participants in the missions will enjoy:

     • Access to high-level officials
     • Business workshops
     • Knowledge about specific opportunities

Please click here for full details on the mission to Nantong and Yancheng and here for the mission to Hangzhou and Ningbo.

UK WPP's Ogilvy & Mather acquires stake in leading Chinese advertising agency

 

[Image courtesy of www.wpp.com]

Yesterday, CBI member WPP announced that its wholly-owned operating company Ogilvy & Mather, a leading advertising and marketing communications network, has acquired 49% of Nanjing Yindu Advertising and Commerce Co., Ltd. ("Yindu") in China.

Based in Nanjing, Yindu is a full-service communications agency with capabilities including strategic planning, advertising, branding and corporate identity, print and media production, and media buying.

Subject to regulatory approval, the acquisition will expand Ogilvy's reach into the Yangtze River Delta, underlining WPP's regional approach in China.

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

UK Company PwC opens its 16th branch office in Hangzhou city, China

 

[Image courtesy of www.pwc.com]

CBI member PwC recently opened a branch office in Hangzhou in eastern China, marking its 16th branch in the country and the second branch launched this year. Earlier this year, PwC opened a branch in Nanjing in Jiangsu province.

PwC China's branch in Hangzhou lays a solid foundation for the firm to serve a number of Chinese and foreign enterprises based in the city and its surrounding region.

Frank Lyn, PwC China Markets Leader, said, "Against the backdrop of a difficult global economic climate, PwC China has opened its Hangzhou office, its 16th branch in China. As part of PwC China's continued expansion, this opening is an indication of the firm's commitment to China."

Steve Pan, PwC Hangzhou Office Lead Partner, said, "Hangzhou's economy has been particularly active in recent years, making it a financial centre in the south of the Yangtze River Delta. We look forward to establishing a long-term cooperative relationship with the Hangzhou municipal government as well as local and foreign enterprises in the area. We aim to provide world-class professional services and strong support to the city of Hangzhou."

PwC China plans to open an additional four branches in China by 2016, extending the firm's footprint to 20 major Chinese cities. PwC China also plans to recruit 15,000 people in China over the next five years.

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

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 Astrazeneca expands its China presence

[Image courtesy of www.astrazeneca.com]

Earlier this week, leading UK pharmaceutical company and CBI member AstraZeneca announced that it will invest $200 million in a new manufacturing facility in eastern China's Jiangsu province.

Located in Taizhou, the new site represents AstraZeneca's largest-ever investment in a single manufacturing facility globally.

With construction scheduled to be completed at the end of 2013, the new facility will produce both intravenous and oral solid medicines for AstraZeneca's growing business in China.

Commenting on the new investment, Mark Mallon, President of AstraZeneca China, said, "AstraZeneca has been putting down deep and broad roots in China for many years, which will be further strengthened by this $200 million investment. Our new manufacturing facility will complement our efforts to meet the medical needs of Chinese patients with medicines that are locally produced. In particular, it will help us reach out to more of the estimated 900 million people in urban and rural communities who have had less access to high quality medicines."

Please click here to read the full press release by AstraZeneca and here for additional media coverage.

Sun Alliance Insurance China continues to shine in Nanjing

 

 

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

Leading global insurer and CBI member RSA recently announced that its wholly owned subsidiary in China, Sun Alliance Insurance (China) Limited, has obtained approval from the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) to open a branch office in the city of Nanjing in Jiangsu Province.

The Nanjing branch office is RSA's second branch in China. RSA China is headquartered in Shanghai and also has a branch office in Beijing.

Commenting on the regulatory approval for the Nanjing branch office, Stuart Purdy, CEO of RSA Asia & Middle East, said, "This approval is a major milestone for RSA as we expand our reach across Eastern China and it will provide a strong platform for future growth."

Greg Otterson, CEO of RSA China, said, "This is fantastic news for our business in China and represents a significant opportunity for RSA, with Jiangsu as one of the largest non-life insurance markets in the country. We will now be able to provide a full range of RSA products to customers across the province from our base in its capital, Nanjing."

Please click here to read the full English-language press release by RSA and here for the Chinese-language version.