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.
On 16th July CBI member BP and CNOOC signed a production sharing agreement for Block 54/11 in the deepwater Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea.
The block covers 4,586 square kilometres in water depths from 370 metres to
2,300 metres, and is close to BP's existing deepwater interests in Blocks 43/11
and 42/05.
CNOOC will be the operator of 54/11. Terms of the production sharing agreement
were not disclosed.
Liming Chen, President of BP China, said, "This builds on our South China
Sea presence creating a strong base for future exploration success for China
and for BP."
Please click here
to read the full press release by BP.
CBI member Balfour Beatty recently announced that Gammon Construction, a Hong Kong construction company that is 50% owned by Balfour Beatty, had won a contract worth HK$8.66 billion (£720 million) to design and build a major strategic road.
The HKSAR Highways contract to construct the Southern Connection Viaduct
Section of the Tuen Mun—Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL) in Hong Kong is the largest
solo civil engineering contract ever awarded to Gammon Construction.
The work on the Southern Connection Viaduct Section includes the design and
construction of a 1.6 kilometre dual 2-lane sea viaduct between the Hong
Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities, and North
Lantau as well as the construction of nine smaller approach viaducts.
Andrew McNaughton, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, said, "Balfour Beatty is a diverse business with the capability to design, construct, manage, and finance major infrastructure projects all around the world. Complex transport challenges like this sea viaduct are where we have particular expertise, and this contract award shows just how valued those skills and experience are.
"It's great news that this project will generate more than 1,500 local
jobs. It demonstrates the value that investment in big infrastructure projects
can bring to the local economy."
Please click here
to read the full press release by Balfour Beatty.
(Image courtesy of www.news.cn)
On 26 December 2012, the new high-speed rail line between Beijing and Guangzhou in southern China opened. The 2,298 kilometre line is the longest high-speed rail line in the world and reduces the travel time between the two cities from more than 20 hours to only eight.
Running at an average speed of 300 kilometres per hour, the line stops in 35 cities and will eventually reach Hong Kong. 155 pairs of trains will run on the line every day, with second-class seats costing RMB 865 (US$138).
The line will add an estimated RMB 30 billion to China's GDP every year.
Zhou Li, director of science and technology at China's Ministry of Railways, said, "The opening of the railway will effectively reduce the social time cost and make travelling more convenient. It can play a great role in boosting coordinated regional economic and social development, promoting the integration
of neighbouring cities and accelerating urbanisation and industrialisation along the way."
Please click here and here to access coverage in the Chinese media.
[Image courtesy of www.europeanchamber.com.cn]
Late last week The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) released its European Business in China Position Paper 2012/2013.
The Position Paper intends to provide an overview of the current conditions in various sectors in China as well as detailed and constructive recommendations.
The 13th edition of the Position Paper was prepared through a six-month consultative process with hundreds of companies and includes 41 separate Working Group and Forum papers and eight city-specific papers covering Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, Pearl River Delta, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin).
Sectors covered include:
• Aerospace
• Agriculture, food, and beverages
• Automotive
• Auto components
• Aviation
• Banking and securities
• Carbon market
• Construction
• Consumer finance and non-banking financial institutions
• Cosmetics
• Energy
• Healthcare equipment
• Heating
• Information and communication technology
• Information security industry
• Insurance
• Lighting
• Logistics
• Maritime transport
• Non-ferrous metals
• Petrochemicals, chemicals, and refining
• Pharmaceutical
• Private equity and strategic mergers & acquisitions
• Rail
• Renewable energy
• Smart grid
Please click here to access the Executive Summary of the Position Paper and here for the full publication.
[Image courtesy of www.fedex.com]
ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital (FEH), sponsored by CBI member FedEx, recently launched a comprehensive eye care programme in Guangzhou in southern China.
The FEH programme aims to lay the foundation for developing a referral network of rural hospitals that will have the capacity to deliver comprehensive eye care services with the long-term support of specialists from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre (ZOC) and Guangzhou Children's Hospital.
ZOC hosted one of the first FEH programmes back in 1982. Today, working with ZOC and Guangzhou Children's Hospital, the new FEH programme will focus on glaucoma, retina disease, and pediatric ophthalmology, which are key areas of the new, long-term project called Comprehensive Rural Eye Service Training (CREST). Organised by ORBIS and ZOC, CREST aims to establish a comprehensive pediatric and adult vision care network in Guangdong.
David Johnson, Flying Eye Hospital Director, said, "Since the first visit of the FEH to Guangzhou 30 years ago, ZOC has become a leading centre of ophthalmic excellence, and we are happy to be able to bring the FEH programme back to Guangzhou to celebrate our collaboration and continue our commitment to strengthening the capacity of eye care professionals and services throughout China.
"With the generous support of FedEx, our long-term global sponsor, and working together with our host partners, the FEH programme will help launch a five-year programme aimed at establishing a network of comprehensive vision care in Guangdong province, while continuing our high-level pediatric eye care skills exchange in Guangzhou."
Eddy Chan, Senior Vice President, FedEx China, said, "For the past three decades, FedEx has helped the ORBIS Flying Eye Care Hospital programme improve the skills of eye care professionals around the world by providing and training volunteer pilots to fly the plane, sponsoring fellowship programmes for promising ophthalmologists, and opening the door to our unparalleled aviation expertise. FedEx has supported ORBIS and the Flying Eye Hospital since the first programme in Guangzhou in 1982, and we are very proud to be part of and to celebrate the FEH's return 30 years later."
Please click here to read the full press release by FedEx.
In additional news, FedEx recently launched a new digital video campaign called "How to Play Badminton like a Pro: Learn from the World Champions" this spring.
As the official partner of the China Badminton Team (CBT), FedEx launched the online video series exclusively on its official campaign website to promote the game of badminton among fans and the general public. FedEx's digital campaign also aims to inspire people to give their best wishes to the CBT and support them during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Catherine Chen, Managing Director of Marketing, FedEx China, said, "FedEx has been in great partnership with the CBT for over six years. Previously, we worked closely and successfully with each other on many fantastic brand promotional campaigns and hope that this new online campaign will bring more badminton enthusiasts together to cheer for their heroes and heroines. Through all of our cheers and encouragement, jointly we will help enable China's national badminton team to reach new heights in London."
Please click here to access FedEx's online campaign and here for the full press release.
[Image courtesy of www.mottmacdonald.com]
CBI member Mott MacDonald was recently appointed as the lead contractor’s designer for the 9.4 kilometre-long viaduct section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge in southern China. The HK$12.867 billion project is the largest single design and build contract ever awarded in Hong Kong.
The bridge will support a dual three-lane carriageway over the Pearl River Estuary. Mott MacDonald will design substantial sections of the viaduct as well as being responsible for geotechnical, highways, electrical and mechanical, utilities, and other civil engineering services.
Dr. Mark Swales, Mott MacDonald's transport division manager in Hong Kong, said, "This is a fantastic project for Mott MacDonald in Asia, and we are proud to be part of the Joint Venture's team. The project will enable us to showcase and draw upon our worldwide experience in the design of major bridges; it will be both challenging and rewarding for all involved."
Please click here to read the full press release by Mott MacDonald.
[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.
[Image courtesy of www.ineos.com]
Last month, CBI member INEOS licensed its Innovene PP process to the Sinopec Maoming Company for the manufacture of polypropylene homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers at Sinopec's planned manufacturing facility in Maoming in southern China's Guangdong province.
Scheduled to open in 2013, Sinopec's new plant will serve the South China markets, including the Pearl River delta region, and bring Sinopec's total capacity based on INEOS Technologies Innovene process to 1.2 million tons of polypropylene. Sinopec is the largest polypropylene producer in China, and produces a range of premium and specialty products using the Innovene PP platform.
INEOS Technologies has now signed four PP licenses in China this year.
Peter Williams, CEO of INEOS Technologies, said, "We are delighted that Sinopec has selected INEOS as their partner for their new Maoming polypropylene project, and look forward to working with Sinopec to ensure the success of the new facility. The repeat business from a customer with the stature of Sinopec is a testimonial to the overall excellence of the technology and the support INEOS Technologies provides to its licensees. INEOS has now licensed approximately 1.7 million tons of capacity in China in 2011."
Please click here to read the full press release by INEOS.
[Image courtesy of www.arup.com]
CBI member Arup recently announced that the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong, to which it provided full engineering services, was voted as the gold winner at the MIPIM Asia Awards 2011, a scheme which recognises outstanding real estate projects in the Asia Pacific region.
Boasting stunning views of Victoria Harbour, ICC is the tallest building in Hong Kong and set new benchmarks for tall building construction in the city. The main structural skeleton is formed from a high modulus concrete inner core wall. Arup engineered the design of the innovative self-compacting high modulus concrete with special volcanic tuff aggregate.
Arup also had a major involvement in five other projects which were recognised at MIPIM Asia Awards 2011 for their innovative, technical, environmental, and architectural qualities:
• Shanghai International Cruise Terminal, which Arup designed the district cooling system for, was awarded silver in the Best Mixed-use Buildings Category.
• Hong Cheng Plaza in Guangzhou, to which Arup was the structural, geotechnical, and façade engineer, received silver in the Best Chinese Futura Projects Category. Olympia 66 in Dalian, to which Arup provided structural and geotechnical consulting services, received bronze.
• Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, to which Arup was the multi-disciplinary engineer, won silver in the Best Central and Western Asia Futura Projects Category.
• Shanghai Wheelock, which Arup developed a preliminary structural design for, won bronze in the Best Business Centre Category.
Please click here to read the full press release by Arup on the recognition it received at the MIPIM Asia Awards 2011.
Earlier this year, Guangzhou International Finance Centre (IFC), engineered by Arup, won the Best Tall Building Award for the Asia and Australasia Region from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) for its outstanding design and construction.
Arup engineers from Hong Kong, London, and Shenzhen worked together to provide full engineering design services for Guangzhou IFC, a highly innovative tower with striking visual impact.
Please click here to read the full press release by Arup on the recognition received by Guangzhou IFC.
Michael Kwok, Arup's Project Director, said, "Guangzhou IFC is another success story of global collaboration between Arup offices to deliver a world class project. We are proud that the depth and breadth of our expertise helps to shape Guangzhou's skyline, and continues to make a positive impact on the built environment."
