China Direct

National People's Congress 2012 - an analysis

 

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

China Direct would like to thank CBI member APCO for kindly providing the following analysis of the recently convened annual National People's Congress in Beijing.

For more information and analysis please download below.

Download NPC_2012

Thank you.

China's Y Generation - what business should know

 

  
[Image courtesy of www.homabooks.com] 

The British Chamber of Commerce in China and the China-Britain Business Council recently hosted an event titled, “Generation Games: Gen Y and their impact on HR,” which featured presentations by global advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi and leading officer furniture supplier Steelcase.

The presentations outlined the defining characteristics of Generation Y as well as the challenges faced by companies employing those born after 1980 in China.

 Several highlights include:

• Gen Y members are those born after 1980. There are nearly 220 million members in China.
• According to a study by Saatchi & Saatchi, there are Three Gen Y personality types in China:

1. “Energetic explorers”: They tend to be very independent and eager to pounce on new opportunities and gain new experiences.
2. “Sure-footed planners”: Constituting the majority of China’s Gen members, they tend to be pragmatic, strongly influenced by traditional Chinese values and focused on their future.
3. “Lost little emperors & empresses”: Unconcerned about the future, this segment tends to be less mature than the other two and wants to delay responsibilities as long as possible.

• Born during China’s economic boom, Gen Y members have never experienced any severe economic crisis.
• Gen Y members engage in fierce competition for government jobs. The average competition ratio for each opening is 95:1.
• Gen Y members are often financially supported by their parents well into adulthood.
• Young men born after 1980 face severe pressure to buy a home prior to marriage.
• Foreign companies in China have failed to fully exploit the Internet as a key recruiting channel through which to reach out to Gen Y members.
• Gen Y members are keen to work with international departments in their companies and gain global experience.
• Gen Y members are eager to know how they have been contributing to their company and want to have clear paths for career advancement laid out for them.
• Gen Y members enjoy working with teams but also want to receive individual recognition for good work.
• Gen Y members expect their supervisors/managers to take a strong interest in their personal development and to take care of them in the workplace.

Many thanks to BritCham-China and the CBBC for hosting a very informative event.

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

 

 

Indigenous Innovation - Member Event 20 Sept BJ

 

 

[Image courtesy of NY Daily News]

“Indigenous Innovation: What It Means for CBI Companies in China”

Date: Monday 20th Sept 2010

Time: 08:30-09:30

Location: APCO Worldwide, NCI Tower, 16F, 12A Jianguomenwai Ave, Beijing 100022

The CBI invites you to a presentation by Jim McGregor, where he will talk about China’s indigenous innovation policies and the impact they may have on CBI member companies in China. 

Jim is a Senior Counselor at APCO Worldwide and is the author of the bestselling book One Billion Customers: Lessons from the Front Lines of Doing Business in China. 

Jim will talk about China’s indigenous innovation campaign and its surrounding web of industrial policies, and how they are impacting China’s relationships with international business and the developed world. 

Jim recently authored a report on this topic that has already generated a great deal of reaction and comment, and we hope this presentation will continue that debate.  

For further details or to register directly please contact Roger Somerville of APCO directly via:

rsomerville@apcoworldwide.com tel: 010 65055127 ext 222 or M: 00 86 13701062905

Thank You  

Rare Earth Issues & China - foreign enterprises hitting rock bottom?

 
  
The vexed issue of resource nationalism has been inextricably linked to China's recent announcement that it will cut supply of rare earth minerals (essential elements required in the manufacture of high tech equipment e.g. iPads) by 62% in 2010.

Given that China controls more than 90% of global production of rare earth minerals this announcement has sent shock waves through the foreign business community in the PRC.

For an overview and assessment of the issues please read a short briefing paper prepared by Ben Cooper, Policy Analyst at the CBI's Beijing office. China Direct would like to thank Ben for his contribution.

Download CBI Briefing China's Rare Earths Export Curb Aug 2010