China Direct

CBI Member Hays leading the Way

CBI member Hays has been busy leading the way, sharing business best practice and supporting businesses in response to COVID.

Please refer to two links below that we hope members will find useful.

Our thanks to the Hays team in Shanghai for sharing their insights with China Direct:

1. https://www.hays.cn/en/what-lessons-can-leaders-learn-from-the-covid-19-crisis-cn,

2. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/video-on-demand/money-mind/counting-the-cost-12788380

CHINA DIRECT

CBI welcomes John Allan as New President

CBI WELCOMES JOHN ALLAN AS NEW PRESIDENT CBI members have endorsed the appointment of John Allan CBE as the President of the UK’s largest business organisation at its Annual General Meeting in London. Mr Allan, Chairman of Tesco and Chairman of Barratt Developments, succeeds Paul Drechsler CBE, Chairman of the Bibby Line Group and Chairman of the Board of Teach First, to become the 27th CBI President since 1965.   John Allan CBE, CBI President, said: “It is a great honour to be elected CBI President at this critical time for the UK’s economy and businesses. “As a country we face great challenges and I will try to ensure that the CBI’s rational, evidence-based solutions are presented clearly and forcefully to all concerned, and in particular to the Government. “Whether it is finding the best possible outcome to Brexit or focussing energy upon the long-term issues, like the Industrial Strategy, skills and infrastructure, we will campaign honestly and clearly for a future which is good for the British economy and good for the British people. “Paul has been an outstanding President helping to steer the business agenda through challenging waters. I look forward to carrying his work forward and to working closely with Carolyn and all the rest of the very talented CBI team.”   Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome John to the CBI as our new President. His passion, and the breadth of his experience and knowledge – formed over decades at some of the largest employers in the country – will be of tremendous value to us at such an important juncture for British industry.”   Since 2015, Mr. Allan has been Chairman of Tesco, the largest private sector employer in the UK. He has also been Chairman of Barratt Developments since 2014. Previously, amongst other senior roles, he was non-executive director at Worldpay where he was formerly Chairman. He was Chairman of Dixons Retail and Chief Financial Officer and a Board Member of Deutsche Post DHL. He was also previously Chairman of Care UK Health & Social Care and a non-executive director of the Home Office Supervisory Board, and was Chairman of London First from 2014 to 2018, a business group representing leaders of firms in the capital. He has been a non-executive director at: Royal Mail, PHS Group, National Grid, Wolseley, Hamleys, 3i and Connell. In 2006, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to freight transport.     19 June 2018   Notes to Editors:   The CBI President plays a leading role in the organisation’s advocacy work, meeting with ministers and senior civil servants, promoting British business internationally and chairing the CBI Board. The role of President is an unpaid post, and the President can stand for a total of three terms as set out in the CBI’s Royal Charter.   Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors. The CBI’s corporate members together employ nearly 7 million people, about one third of private sector-employees. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.   Media Contact: CBI Press Office is available 24 hours a day on 0207 395 8239, or email: [email protected]. Follow the CBI (@CBItweets) on Twitter.

 

Foster + Partners, ‘City Visions: A Sustainable Future’ Exhibition opens at the Big House, Wuhan

 

City Visions: A Sustainable Future, a major exhibition about the urban design work of CBI member Foster + Partners, has opened at the Big House in Wuhan.

The show features a wide range of the practice’s work over several decades highlighting the variety and depth of projects that have sought to improve the urban environments of cities world-wide.

New urban planning projects for Wuhan city are explained through models, photos and videos including projects for Wuhan Aomen Road Masterplan, Sanyang Road District and Yuexiu Global Financial City.

The exhibition offers visitors a unique insight into the workings of the studio and the urban design process, in which architects and urban designers work closely together to design prosperous, socially enriching projects capable of evolving to meet future needs.

Foster + Partners’ urban design philosophy has always been underpinned by the acknowledgement that the design of the built environment must be generated by the needs of people, be respectful of the existing built fabric, cater to the local economy, and above all, be sustainable.

Please read more here.

CBI Monthly Partners Update August 2014

 

 

Dear CBI Members and Partners,

Kindly find our August 2014 Monthly Partners Update.

Headlines as below:

• Applications for 2015-16 Chevening Scholarship Programme open in China
• British Olympic Team participates in Nanjing reception on British creativity
• Chinese Ambassador to U.K. speaks at launch of London Autumn Cultural Season 2014
• Last chance to enter British Business Awards 2014
• Ms. Barbara Woodward CMG OBE appointed U.K.’s new Ambassador to China
• New marriage procedures for British nationals in China
• Super Priority Visa service available in China
• U.K. and China launch joint project to fight antibiotic resistance
• U.K. water experts work with Xi’an

Download CBI China Monthly Roundup August 2014

GKN Driveline announces new investment in Chongqing

 

 

CBI member GKN recently announced that GKN Driveline is continuing its expansion in China with a groundbreaking for the expansion of its plant in Chongqing.

GKN Chongqing Driveshaft (GDC) is investing US$43.9 million to expand the facility which will cover an area of nearly 12,000 square metres when construction is completed in 2014. The expansion of the plant will allow localisation of CVJ System production for the many OEMs in the Chongqing area. Production is expected to start in July 2014, and upon completion the plant will have capacity of over one million vehicle sets per year.

Andy Reynolds Smith, CEO GKN Automotive, said, "Chongqing is the automotive manufacturing centre for Southwest China, with fast growing customer demand and market forecasts of two million cars by 2015.

"Our rapidly increasing China footprint allows us to better serve our customers such as Chang'an Ford, creating more efficiency in supply chains with localised supply and continued high levels of service. This builds on the existing highly successful operational base of eight plants."

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

 

 

China's 3rd Eurasia Expo ito be held in Urumqi, Xinjiang, from 02-07 September

 

The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) is inviting members for a group visit to Urumqi in Xinjiang to explore business opportunities in a range of sectors during the Third China-Eurasia Expo.

Participating members will meet government leaders, a range of regional stakeholders, and potential Chinese partners to learn about opportunities in this fast growing region as well as attend the numerous forums organised during the China-Eurasia Expo.

The visit will take place from 02-07 September this year. Companies engaged in tourism, logistics, new energy, petrochemicals, machinery, and agriculture should consider joining.

Please click here to read the full details or contact the CBI's Beijing office for additional information.

Balfour Beatty wins £720 million road contract in Hong Kong

 

 

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.

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.

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.