China Direct

Deloitte Foundation launches in Chongqing

 

 

CBI member Deloitte announced that the Deloitte Foundation was officially launched in Chongqing to centrally manage Deloitte China’s philanthropic donations and to build value in local communities through a series of societal projects across the country.

Deloitte China Partner Kevin Ng was appointed as Secretary-General of the Foundation and will work closely with an independent board of directors which is comprised of senior and retired partners as well as committed individuals outside the firm.

For the past decade, Deloitte China has championed multiple social projects to give disadvantaged youth in marginalised communities in mainland China and Hong Kong access to education. Signature projects include the Yunnan Village Adoption Project, the Hubei Hope School Project in rural China, and the Pass the Torch Student Mentoring Programme in Hong Kong.

Over 3,000 young people have benefited variously from Deloitte’s provision of schools, tuition sponsorship, and mentoring. During its fiscal year 2015, Deloitte made a societal contribution—including donations and pro bono work—of US$212 million.

In China, Deloitte’s societal contribution reached HK$27.6 million for the same period. Over 10,000 employees of Deloitte China are also entitled to voluntary community service hours.

Please read more here.

HMA Barbara Woodward visits SW China

 

 

Following the U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer’s visit in September, Barbara Woodward paid her first solo visit to Chengdu as British Ambassador to China on 19-20 November.

 

During her visit, Ambassador Woodward met the Executive Vice Governor of Sichuan province, Wang Ning, and the Mayor of Chengdu, Tang Liangzhi, and exchanged views on the U.K.-Sichuan/Chengdu bilateral relationships. In her meetings, the Ambassador highlighted President Xi’s successful state visit to the U.K. in October.

 

She also discussed the Chancellor’s visit to Chengdu in September in which he introduced the Northern Powerhouse. In addition, the Ambassador visited the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and delivered a speech on the U.K.-China Golden Age: Joint Efforts to a Green and Low Carbon Future to hundreds of students to highlight the U.K.’s and China’s cooperation on clean energy, smart cities, and other areas of low carbon development.

 

She also visited the Gerontology Department and the Tele-health Department of West China Hospital, the second-largest hospital in China. She promised to invite more of the U.K.’s healthcare organisations to Go West and to expand cooperation with West China Hospital and across Sichuan in developing new hospitals, in delivering education and training, and in informatics, telemedicine, and elderly care.

 

The Ambassador also participated in an Empowering Women: Growing Your Career Talk at Fangsuo Bookstore to share her personal experiences with female university students on her own growth and career development.

 

There are now more than 94 U.K. companies registered and doing business in Chengdu and Sichuan—nine of the 94 are in the world’s top 500 companies—in sectors ranging from financial and professional services, aerospace, engineering, construction, and manufacturing.

 

Please read more here.

CBI Member China Successes September 2015

 

Dear CBI members and partners,

Please find our monthly members success summary for September 2015 attached below for your review.

Members mentioned include:

• Airbus
• Baker & McKenzie
• Benoy
• Bentley Motors
• Boeing
• BP
• British Airways
• British Film Institute
• Deloitte
• Diageo
• EY
• Heathrow Airport Limited
• Imperial College London
• Jones Lang LaSalle
• Linklaters
• PwC
• Rolls-Royce
• Shell
• Simmons & Simmons
• Standard Chartered
• Starbucks Coffee Company
• UBM
• University of Birmingham
• University of Nottingham
• University of Sheffield

Download CBI China, Celebrating CBI Member Success in China, September 2015

AIG releases 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

 

CBI member American International Group (AIG) released its 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

In China, AIG initiated a Road Safety Tour, which focused on educating the public on road safety issues and saw a specially modified truck travel across the country for six months, engaging more than 28,000 people.

Educational activities included: driving simulators that evaluated an individual’s driving safety level, an impaired driving experience to educate participants on the dangers of drunk driving, and a seatbelt simulator that recreated the impact of a collision.

Last year, AIG saw a 76% increase in volunteer hours served during its Global Volunteer Weeks. Employees from 46 countries participated in 324 community service projects, volunteering more than 23,500 hours of their time.

Please read more here.

CBI Member Successes in China - Snapshot of Year of the The Horse

 

Dear CBI members and strategic partners,

China Direct would like to share with you a snapshot of CBI members' successes in China through 2014. We hope that you found our new format easy to use, visual and informative and wish you all every success for the forthcoming year of the sheep.

Please do keep sending us your updates and press releases so that your business can also be highlighted in 2015.

Thank you.

Download CBI Beijing, Member Milestones in China, 2014

Jaguar Land Rover attends Chengdu Motor Show 2014

 

 
CBI member Jaguar Land Rover is participating in the Chengdu Motor Show 2014, the largest auto
exhibition in western China, with the first showcase of the full Jaguar XF family and debuts of several Land Rover special or limited editions.

Jaguar Land Rover's showroom covers 1,560 metres of space in the Century City New International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Chengdu.

During the auto show, Jaguar Land Rover won five awards from three media outlets.

In the first seven months of 2014, Jaguar Land Rover's sales in western China increased nearly 60%
compared to the previous year.

Prior to the exhibition, Jaguar Land Rover China President Bob Grace visited the Jaguar Land Rover Hope School in Ya'an to check on the progress of reconstruction and meet with students, teaching an English lesson and sharing his own experiences.

Following the classes, a model was unveiled showing the new 2,200 square metre school facilities that will be ready for use in March 2015.

As part of its long-term commitment to corporate social responsibility in China, Jaguar Land Rover also announced the Children and Youth Dream Fund earlier this year.

With a donation of RMB 50 million (US$7.9 million) over three years, the fund will support local initiatives for China's young people. The China Soong Ching Ling Foundation is Jaguar Land Rover's joint partner for the fund.

Please click here and here to read further information in articles by China Daily.

 

Jaguar Land Rover launches Dream Fund for young people in China

CBI member Jaguar Land Rover recently launched the Jaguar Land Rover China Children and Youth Dream Fund at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The China Soong Ching Ling Foundation is Jaguar Land Rover's joint partner for the Dream Fund.

(Source: China Daily. Bob Grace, President of Jaguar Land Rover Greater China, donates check of RMB 50 million to Qi Mingqiu, Executive Chairman of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, in Beijing)

With a donation of RMB 50 million (US$7.9 million) over three years, the fund will support local initiatives for China's young people, particularly disadvantaged children and youth.

The fund has been structured around four programme areas: Sports for All, Road Safety, Children and Youth Development, and Social Care.

Two initial programmes were launched at the event. First, the Land Rover Never Stop Caring Journey for Vision programme will screen thousands of children for eye problems, enabling them to get glasses and/or treated for serious eye conditions. Second, the Jaguar China Youth Football Development Initiative will bring an ambitious sports programme across China, supported by global football legend David Beckham.

Bob Grace, President of Jaguar Land Rover Greater China, said, "Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an integral part of our China strategy. The establishment of the Dream Fund highlighted a milestone in Jaguar Land Rover's history in China, marking its further development and long-term commitment to local market and customers.

"As we embark on this exciting journey of giving back to society, we hope to work hand-in-hand with all of you to fulfill all our dreams of a better tomorrow."

Jing Dunquan, Vice-Chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, said, "We are building the future and take the development of children as a serious responsibility, which also clearly identifies with Jaguar Land Rover China's CSR principles.

"I believe our collaboration will integrate our combined resources across a number of areas and help build a bridge for the younger generation that will lead to them realising dreams."

Please click here to read the full article in China Daily.

CBI member Unilever sources more than one-third of its agricultural raw materials sustainably

CBI member Unilever recently announced that it is sourcing more than a third of its agricultural raw materials sustainably, having made significant progress towards its target of 100% by 2020.

With 36% now sourced sustainably, Unilever has exceeded the interim milestone of 30% it set for itself in 2010 when launching the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. The improvement was made against a backdrop of the company reporting annual sales of €51 billion in 2012.

Taken together, they represent significant milestones on the way to realising Unilever's vision of doubling the size of its business whilst reducing its environmental footprint and improving its positive social impact.

As an example of Unilever's progress in sustainable sourcing, the company is working towards its new commitment to 100% certified sustainable palm oil, which is traceable back to the plantations on which it is grown.

In 2012, Unilever joined key players in industry and government for the China Sustainable Palm Oil Supply Chain Forum for talks on promoting faster uptake in China, the world's second-largest consumer of palm oil.

Marc Engel, Chief Procurement Officer, said, "Climate change, water scarcity, unsustainable farming practices, and rising populations all threaten agricultural supplies and food security. Half of the raw materials Unilever buys are from the farming and forestry industries, so ensuring a secure supply
of these materials is a major business issue. However, sustainable sourcing is not only about managing business risks, it also presents an opportunity for growth, allowing brands to stand out in the marketplace."

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

CBI Member GKN wins British Company of the Year Award at 2012 BBA

 

[Image courtesy of www.cbichina.org.cn] 

The winners of the British Business Awards 2012 were recently revealed at an awards dinner held on 08 November. The ceremony was formally opened by Her Majesty's Ambassador to China, Sebastian Wood, followed by an address from CBI President Sir Roger Carr.

CBI members were well-represented among the winners, including:

• GKN China: British Company of the Year. Please read more here.

• Standard Chartered Bank: Financial and Professional Services Award. Please read more here.

• Unilever China: Sustainability Award. Please read more here.

Diageo's China Sustainability Programme - serving society

 

[Image courtesy of www.diageo.com]

CBI member Diageo recently released its 2012 Sustainability & Responsibility Report, which highlights progress and goals across the company's key sustainability focuses, including alcohol in society, water and the environment, socio-economic development, people, and governance and ethics.

Highlights of Diageo's sustainability programme in China include:

     • Diageo launched local Sustainability & Responsibility Strategy workshops in China, Kenya, and the 
       U.K. this year. These workshops aimed to determine or confirm what constitutes shared values for 
       Diageo and its local stakeholders.

     • As part of its DRINKiQ programme, which aims to promote responsible drinking, Diageo partnered 
       with others in China to deliver training to industry groups, media, and bartending students.

     • As part of its Water of Life (WOL) programme, which aims to provide access to safe drinking water, 
       Diageo has been improving the safety of drinking water for residents in impoverished areas and 
       protecting water resources in China since 2007. In 2011, Diageo employees travelled to Sichuan 
       province and invested more than £30,000 to build 100 local wells that bring safe drinking water to 
       villages.

     • The Diageo Bar Academy, which provides accredited training and professional certification for 
       bartenders and focuses on serving alcohol responsibly, has trained 10,000 bartenders across 
       China, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam since 
       the foundation course was launched in India in May 2011.

Paul Walsh, CEO of Diageo, said, "Driving strong performance in sustainability and responsibility is in the long-term interests of our company. It helps ensure that we can both deliver returns to shareholders and benefit the communities whose lives we touch. It is my firm belief that the most genuinely strategic and forward looking businesses treat sustainability as a core component of business delivery."

Please click here to access the full report by Diageo.