China Direct

CBI Member China update featuring Rio Tinto & Arup

 

CBI member Rio Tinto recently launched its latest diamond marketing initiative in China.

Titled 'The Fashion of Diamonds', this initiative has resulted in a number of collaborations with designers and manufacturers. The 13 collections, comprising more than 90 pieces of diamond jewellery, were unveiled in Shanghai.

The growth in volume from Rio Tinto's Argyle underground mine will help meet China's growing demand for diamonds and diamond accessories, as the quality of Argyle diamonds is ideally suited for fashion jewellery in China.

'The Fashion of Dimaonds' initiative provides the Chinese diamond trade with retailer support materials, including marketing, training, and a dedicated website.

Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Managing Director of Rio Tinto Diamonds, said, "I am delighted to be in Shanghai to see the results of this next phase in our China market strategy. Increasing wealth will continue to underpin China's demand for diamond jewellery, which is in strong demand as a fashion accessory.

"Rio Tinto Diamonds initially launched its China strategy in 2010 at Shanghai World Expo. Since that time we have continued to focus on developing together with our trade and retail partners the diamond fashion jewellery market in China, creating opportunities for diamond purchasing beyond the solitaire engagement ring."

Rita Maltez, Manager of Rio Tinto Diamond's Greater China Representative Office, said, "The time is perfect to introduce these stunning new fashion jewellery collections. They are inspired by notions of nature, romance, shapes, and patterns and are symbolic of a new era in China's jewellery industry, one that will be more design driven than ever."

Please click here to read the full press release by Rio Tinto.

CBI member Arup recently announced that its Post Shanghai Expo Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) – Low Carbon Redevelopment Implementation Plan had won the Silver Award for best planning project in the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) Award 2013.

The planning objective of the project is to prepare low carbon and ecological planning guidelines for the former Shanghai Expo UBPA site to convert it into a new business neighbourhood.

This was the fourth time in the last six years that Arup won this prestigious award for low carbon planning work in China.

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

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.  

Richard Lambert - China Visit & Commentary Sept 2010

 

 

CBI Director General Richard Lambert recently concluded a week long visit to China.

His trip coincided with the UK's National Day at Shanghai EXPO, a visit to meet the Party Secretary of Jiangsu in Nanjing and extensive engagement with CBI member companies in Beijing and Shanghai.

Please download Richard's comments and observations on the Chinese economy and business environment below.

Download RL China Letter 13 May 2010

CBI China Events Programme Sept 2010

 

 

[Images courtesy of www.standford.edu and www.bbs.chinadaily.com.cn]

 

China Direct has been working hard to bring its members a series of events and briefings in September.

Here is just a selection of what will be on offer this month. Please add to your diaries!

Thurs 02 Sept: Annual EUCCC Position Paper Launch (Beijing)

Mon 06 Sept: Joint Britcham-CBBC-CBI Luncheon with the Duke of York (Beijing)

Tues 07 Sept:  "The inexorable rise of China - a UK perspective" CBI Director General, Richard Lambert, speech to international business community with the European Chamber of Commerce (Beijing)

Tues 07 Sept: Tues 07 Sept: Annual British Business Awards Gala Dinner (Shanghai)

Fri 10 Sept:  "The inexorable rise of China - a UK perspective" CBI Director General, Richard Lambert, speech to British & international business community with the British Chamber (Shanghai)

Mon 20 Sept: "Indigenous Innovation" - what it means for CBI companies in China. APCO Event for CBI members only (Beijing)

Richard Lambert China Visit 05-10 Sept

 

China Direct is back in action after a break over the summer period.

We have a busy and active few months ahead of us starting with Richard Lambert's eagerly anticipated visit to China in September (05-10). This will coincide with the UK's national day celebrations at the UK Pavilion in the Shanghai EXPO on 08 September.

If you would like to meet up with Richard or have any business issues that you wish to raise with him then please contact the CBI's Beijing office on: 00 86 10 85253100 or e-mail China Direct via: [email protected]

We look forward to your feedback and comments.

Thank You

British Business Awards - Finalists to be announced on 24 June

 

[Image courtesy of the British Chamber of Commerce www.pek.britcham.org]
 

A date for your business diary!

The finalists for the 2010 British Business Awards will be announced at an awards finalist event in Shanghai at CBI member Intercontinental Shanghai EXPO hotel on Thursday 24th June.

China Direct and Ms. Rhian Chilcott, Director of the CBI's Washington DC office, will be attending the event and look forward to seeing you.

Please download a biography of Ms. Chilcott below:

Download Rhian Chilcott bio with photo

Kindly note that the 18th June is the final date for existing BBA applications (registered before 04 June) to be submitted.

For more information about the BBA please contact Ms. Jody Cheung via: [email protected]

CBI members can also benefit from competitive rates at the Intercontinental's Puxi hotel.

For Intercontinental CBI member discount details:

Ms. Nile Zheng at [email protected] Tel: 00 86 10 85253100

Many thanks

CBI Member Companies - a China Investment Snapshot

 

 It is hard to keep track of all of our 400+ member companies active across China however here is a snapshot of some members that we have been monitoring over April-May 2010.

Auto Giant General Motors announced record growth during the first quarter - up by 70% on 2009.

Top Chinese oil corporation Sinopec has acquired a US 4.6 billion stake in Syncrude, a Canadian tar sands project owned by new CBI member ConocoPhillips.

Cisco announced commencement of work on 'Tianfu Intelligent Internet City', a major information network platform, in Chengdu's high tech industrial park.

Unilever has boosted its investment by US$ 102.5 million into Hefei city, capital of Anhui province.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries established a representative office in Chengdu city earlier in 2010 in order to facilitate plans to develop lithium batteries for electric transit buses, as part of their low carbon transport initiatives for China.

UPS has completed its US$ 180 million investment in a logistics hub in Shenzhen. In addition the logistics giant will make a major investment in Hefei city to create Asia's largest shared service centre.

Siemens opened its global IT operations centre in Chengdu in April and will employ more than 100 staff by 2011.

Intel has manufactured its 480 millionth chip at its Chengdu plant. Intel has invested US$ 600 million since opening its Sichuan operations in 2003.

Toyota will launch a new automotive manufacturing plant in the NE city of Changchun in 2011 capable of producing more than 100,000 cars per annum. Toyota sales growth of 13% is forecast for 2010.

New CBI Trade Association member, IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), is participating at creative workshops at the UK Pavilion at EXPO through May. It is representing the UK Advertising Industry at these and associated events.

Unipart has announced plans to build a second logistics hub in Beijing's Olympic Logistics Park.

Tesco has just announced plans to expand more retail and leisure space in China over the next 5 years than it currently operates in the UK.

For more details on all these stories and more please visit www.cbichina.org.cn

Shanghai EXPO 2010 - Infrastructure and Eco Building opportunities

The Shanghai World EXPO, which opens this Sunday 01 May, has a wide variety of more than 200 innovative and environmentally friendly pavilions on display.

The UK's 'dandelion' pavilion is certainly one of the most eye-catching and is sure to be an instant hit amongst the more than 70 million visitors to EXPO over the next six months (01 May - 31 Oct).

However, it is Shanghai's massive infrastructure build (US$ 95 billion spent to date in preparation for EXPO) and strict new environmental regulations for all future building projects that will offer the greatest business opportunities to companies seeking to enter the market. 

For an overview of the infrastructure opportunities on offer to design, engineering and construction related businesses please read CBI Member Jones Lang Lasalle's latest Report 'Building the Foundations for Shanghai's future' below.

Additionally strategic partner Interchina offers its views on the opportunities in the fast growing green and eco-building market below.

China Direct would like to thank both JLL and InterChina for kindly providing these briefings.

1. Download Infrastructure Opportunities and Shanghai EXPO 2010

2. Download Opportunities in China's Eco Buildings Expo 2010

'Seed Cathedral' or 'Dandelion'? - a look at the UK's Pavilion at Shanghai EXPO

As the final countdown to the start of EXPO 2010 on 01 May continues please read below the CBI's own review of the UK Pavilion.

Admire the only building of its kind in the world and read how the five key sponsors of the UK Pavilion (Astrazeneca, Barclays, BP, Diageo and GKN - all CBI members) regard their involvement at the Shanghai EXPO.

Download Shanghai EXPO BV April 2010

 

UK Pavilion at Shanghai EXPO 2010 - A Guide

A Guide to the UK Pavilion has now been produced and China Direct is delighted to share this with you below.

There are just 53 days to go until the grand opening of the World EXPO however there is still time for UK businesses to get involved.

Just contact Rebecca Hickman via [email protected] directly or visit the News and Events section of the comprehensive bilingual Pavilion website.

Download UK Pavilion Story_Media_EN