China Direct

China's 'Capital Confidence' Barometer

 

 

[Image courtesy of www.ey.com/china]

 

China Direct would like to thank Ernst & Young for sharing the following Chinese CEO's capital confidence survey with our readers.

Executive Summary as follows:

• Chinese companies more likely to make acquisitions than global peers
• Local economic confidence high 82% but confidence in global economic recovery wanes
• Organic growth and research and development no 1 and 2 focus for Chinese executives
• A third likely to make markets acquisitions in next six months, but increases to 51 % in 12 months
• Chinese executives on the lookout for value and well positioned to make strategic acquisitions quickly should the opportunity arise – no matter what time horizon

Download EY_CCB_China_Feb2011

 

 

 

 

 

UK architects reach for the sky in China

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.guardian.co.uk]

The rapid growth of China's cities is fueling high demand for British architectural and engineering expertise across the country.

Renowned British architect Sir Terry Farrell is about to finish the 100-storey, 441 metre (1,440 feet) Kingkey Finance Tower in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

Upon completion, the tower will be the tallest skyscraper ever designed by a British architect. Read more here.

Only 50 KM to the west of Shenzhen acclaimed UK architect Zaha Hadid will be at the opening of her latest architectural jewel, Guangzhou's opera house, in early March.

Foster & Partners has already been involved in the design and planning of some of China's most striking buildings including Beijing Capital Airport Terminal 3, the UAE Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 EXPO and ongoing project work at the Cathay Pacific lounges at Hong Kong International airport.

And with CBI members such as Arup, Mott Macdonald, Benoy and Atkins designing and building China's megacities of tomorrow the stage is set for British architects to truly reach for the skies.  

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) climbs to US$ 105.7 billion in 2010

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.godanriver.com]

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to China rose 23.4 % in Jan 2011, compared to 2010 figures.

China attracted US$10.03 billion in FDI for the first month of 2011 following slower growth since August 2010 following moves by the government to slow the economy - including last week's third interest rate hike in four months.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) to China rose to $105.7 billion in 2010, the government said last month, reflecting growing foreign confidence in the economy despite Beijing's dampening measures.

Investment by overseas companies in 2010 rose by 17.4%, with more than 20% of investments in the property sector.

Analysts say strong growth in the world's second-largest economy and expectations for a stronger currency have attracted a growing number of foreign investors to China, hoping for a better return on their money.

UK must increase exports - BRIC by BRIC

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.cfoinnovation.com]

CBI member and international professional services firm Ernst & Young (E&Y) has recently released its latest Item Club report which argues that the UK economy could achieve a much stronger performance by re-orienting its exports towards the BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China).

As the economic recovery remains weak in the UK and other developed markets, British companies will increasingly need to look overseas in order to grow their businesses.

Nearly half (48.7%) of the UK’s exports go to the EU while the BRICs receive less than 5%, indicating that there is significant room for growth in Britain’s trade with the BRICs.

E&Y predicts that exports to the BRICs will grow by almost 12% annually over the next decade.

Click here to read the full E&Y report and here for additional media coverage.  

China's 2010 international trade figures - emerging markets growing fastest

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.cfoinnovation.com]

China Direct would like to share with its members China's international trade headlines and statistics released by the Ministry of Commerce on 02 Feb.

Emerging markets saw the greatest trade growth with China and can therefore be expected to secure increased Chinese investments in 2011.

Headlines: Emerging Markets

• Sino-South Africa (RSA) trade increased by 59.5%
• Sino-Brazil trade grew by 47.5%
• Sino-Russian trade expanded by 43.1%
• Sino-India trade up 42.4%
• Trade with ASEAN up 37.5%

Headlines: Developed Markets

• Sino-EU trade grew by 31.8%
• Sino-Japan trade grew by 30.2%
• Sino-US trade increased 29.2%

Headlines: Key Trade Partners & Export Markets

• Top trade partners in 2010: EU, USA & Japan
• Top trade partner and export destination: Japan, Republic of Korea, ASEAN, Australia & RSA
• Second largest trade partner and export destination: EU
• Second largest business partner and third largest export destination: USA
• Total imports/exports: 2.97 trillion U.S. dollars in 2010, up 34.7% on 2009

New CBI Director-General John Cridland - now in post

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.cbi.org.uk]

China Direct is delighted to welcome John Cridland as the new Director of the CBI.

Mr. Cridland started his five year tenure today and gave an interview to BBC News during which he highlighted the need for growth and a job-rich recovery in the UK. For more on this interview please click here.

The CBI's Beijing office looks forward to seeing Mr. Cridland out in China and the region later in the year and will keep CBI members updated as to his itinerary shortly.

For more on Mr. Cridland's appointment, which was made in November 2010, please read here.

The Beijing office will now be closed for the duration of the Chinese New Year Festival (02-09 Feb) although China Direct hopes to continue blogging wherever possible!

A very happy New Year of the Rabbit to you all.  

Sino-Indian cooperation - Strategic Investors?

 

 

China Direct's CBI Delhi office has flagged up the intriguing possibility of China's Sinochem and India's National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) entering into a strategic alliance in order to acquire Canada's PotashCorp, the world's largest fertilizer company by capacity.

For more on this fascinating development please refer to Mark Runacres's note below.

Download CBI Delhi CH-IND Potash Oct 10

 

 

India on the eve of the Commonwealth Games - a CBI Delhi perspective

 

 

[Image courtesy of www.cwgdelhi2010.org]

Mark Runacres, the CBI's Delhi based adviser, has produced an overview of the political and economic environment in India on the eve of the Commonwealth Games.

For more information on CBI companies in India please contact Mark directly via: mark.runacres@cbi.org.uk

Please read on for the report.

Download India on the Eve of the Commonwealth Games 2010