Pilatus Opens Joint Venture Company in China

Pilatus Aircraft Industry (China) Co., Ltd opened for business on August 5th, 2013 in the Chinese metropolis of Chongqing. The new joint venture company will allow Pilatus Aircraft Ltd to establish itself in the Chinese market. An initial contract to supply a total of 50 PC-12s/PC-6s has also been signed. The newly created company and associated Pilatus activities in China will have a positive impact on production operations in Switzerland. The gradual opening up of Chinese air space has brought new importance to civil aviation. The Chinese aviation authority (CAAC) expects to see average growth of over ten percent in the Chinese aviation industry in the next few years. Pilatus opted to set up a joint venture company with a Chinese Partner for the purpose of gaining a firm foothold in this new market. Indeed, Pilatus would not be able to sell its aircraft in China without the new company of which Pilatus has a majority shareholding.

Swiss Sportswear Firm Intersport Enters China with Plan for 100 Shops

Intersport International Corp, the world’s largest multi-brand sportswear retailer, plans to open its first shop on the mainland at the end of this month, confident market headwinds will not slow its expansion in the world’s second-largest economy. The Swiss company, which has more than 5’400 shops in 42 countries, will partner with Fujian-based department store operator New Huadu Supercenter to open up to 100 large-sized sports goods stores over the next five years. The first store will be in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province. The company’s major rival in China will be French multi-brand sportswear retailer Decathlon Group, which has already established 57 stores in 25 mainland cities over the past decade. Intersport entered the Asian market in 2010 with shops in South Korea. The company said on its website it planned to open 500 shops in Asia by 2022 with potential annual retail sales of USD 1 billion. It signed a master franchise agreement with Shenzhen-listed New Huadu in March to open stores in 10 provinces.

China Buys Its Way to Aerospace Growth with M&A Splurge

China’s ambitions to fast-track the development of its aerospace industry continued to be a key driver of merger and acquisitions (M&A) activity during the second quarter, according to financial advising group PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). In a report last week, the group contrasted high levels of M&A activity in the civil aerospace sector with a defense sector where deal-making has slowed in the wake of the U.S. federal government cuts to military spending and the uncertainty prompted by the budget sequestration. So far this year there have been 17 civil aerospace M&A deals each worth more than USD 50 million, with a total value of USD 4.2 billion, compared with just four defense deals totaling USD 1.3 billion, according to PwC. The total value of M&A deals during the second quarter reached USD 4.1 billion, compared with USD 1.9 billion in the first quarter. This included one unspecified “mega-deal” involving a Chinese company and worth USD 1.5 billion alone.

Nestlé Escapes Fine in Baby Formula Probe

China has fined six baby formula producers following an investigation into price fixing and anti-competitive practices. Swiss food giant Nestlé was not punished because it cooperated with the Chinese authorities. The Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that it was charging the companies a total of USD 110 million (CHF102 million) following a four-month antitrust probe. The penalised firms are Mead Johnson Nutrition, Danone, Fonterra, Abbott Laboratories, FrieslandCampina and Biostime International Holdings. In a statement published on Wednesday, the NDRC said that the fines were for restricting competition, setting curbs on minimum prices for distributors and disrupting market order. Along with two other companies, Nestlé was not punished because it “cooperated with the investigation, provided important evidence and carried out self-rectification” said the head of the NDRC’s price department. In July, when the probe was made public, Nestlé said that it would slash its baby milk formula prices by up to 20% in China. The punished firms now have to pay fines worth 3 to 6% of their 2012 sales. Analysts have said that the probe may have been part of a Chinese plan to promote the consumption of local baby formula. In 2008, melamine-tainted Chinese formula killed six infants and sickened thousands of others – increasing the demand for foreign milk products.

ABB to Supply Propulsion Transformers to Leading Chinese Shipbuilder

ABB has been selected by Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Ltd. in China, to supply 24 dry-type propulsion transformers, for installation in 12 diesel-electric powered offshore platform supply vessels. The 2,300-kilovolt ampere (kVA) 480-volt dry-type ABB propulsion transformers will be built at the company’s Trasfor facilities. ABB acquired Trasfor Group, a leading manufacturer of dry-type transformers and inductors for low-voltage and medium-voltage applications. Compact dry-type transformers offer high efficiency and reliability due to fewer moving parts, as well as lower noise levels and weight. They provide electrical propulsion systems with power, helping to reduce carbon emissions at sea, and also improve operational accuracy during critical maneuvers.

Be Innovative, Think China! – CTI China Market Entry CAMP

Switzerland’s Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) and swissnex China are proud to announce their collaborative program ‘CTI China Market Entry CAMP’. This joint initiative is open to all CTI Start-ups and introduces them to characteristics and networks of China’s fast growing market and innovative potential in order to prepare them for a successful market entry in China. There are many interesting stories we would love to share with you. Swiss start-ups that want to successfully enter the Chinese market need to integrate China and its various aspects into their business plans. The CTI China Market Entry CAMP addresses exactly this need. In the context of the program, swissnex China provides CTI start-ups with different services such as connections to local networks, business-related information, fact-finding missions and learning tools.

Touch Switzerland, Experience Swisstouches

Swisstouches Hotel Xi’an is the first Swiss luxury business and leisure hotel in the capital city of Shaanxi province. A new, inspiring brand with origins in the beautiful Swiss Alps, Swisstouches Hotels and Resorts entered China in 2010. It offers the famous Swiss hospitality service and quality with a focus on making all business and leisure guests feel very welcome under the motto “our hotel is your home”. “Swisstouches aims to bring unique Swiss hospitality experiences delivered with the high-quality standards of a Swiss watch into the Chinese market,” said Ian Larmour, CEO of the company. “We are very proud that, this year, the Swiss Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Beijing presented us with the prestigious Swiss 2013 Business Award – Startup of the Year. “It is a true honor for Swisstouches Hotels to get this award, and we will work enthusiastically to develop this beautiful Swiss hospitality brand into more cities in China soon.”

Trade agreement opens doors for Lindt

The recently signed free trade agreement between Switzerland and China will help Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprngli to establish itself as the preferred premium chocolate brand in the country, according to the company. As one of the originators of the globally renowned Swiss chocolate culture, Lindt’s heritage dates back to the year 1845. Currently, Lindt chocolates are available in more than 40 cities at nearly 3,000 sales outlets. Andreas Pfluger, vice-president responsible for Asian market believes there is tremendous potential for growth in the Chinese market. Currently per capita chocolate consumption on the Chinese mainland is about 100 grams a year, compared to 500 g in Taiwan, 1.6 kilograms in Japan and 12 Kg in Switzerland. More and more chocolate is being sold in China. And the number will grow even larger.

Shankai Sports Actively Supports China’s Equestrian Development

Darley, the global thoroughbred breeding operation, and its China representative Shankai Sports announced that 15 young Chinese nationals have graduated on June 25 from the Dubai International Thoroughbred Internships programme and a further twelve have graduated from the Darley Jockey Training Programme. This project is one of the few equestrian exchanges between China and Dubai. Another example is the Dubai World Cup – the prestigious horse race, to which VIP guests are invited from around the world. In recent years, Shankai Sports has handled the China operations of this event. In 2013, nearly 50 Chinese guests attended the event, forming the largest national delegation. The Dubai World Cup began in 1996 and has been held at the spectacular Meydan race course since 2010. The Dubai World Cup is the sports event with the highest prize in the world. On July 26, the Head of the Trade and Investment Promotion of Brazilian Embassy Mr. Hayle Gadelha, came to the Shankai Sports office to discuss the arrangements for the promotion of the 2014 World Cup.

ABB Signs MoU with Chinese Province

ABB announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for strategic cooperation with a Chinese delegation from the Development and Reform Commission of Guangdong Province. The agreement calls for both parties to deepen their cooperation on transportation, energy efficiency, and industrial upgrade. The Chinese delegation to ABB headquarters in Switzerland was led by Hu Chunhua, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and CPC Guangdong Secretary. According to the MoU, ABB will further strengthen its research initiatives in Guangdong province, including the establishment of the ABB R&D Center for Railway Transportation System and Application Center for Industrial Robotics, to support the province’s industrial modernization strategy. ABB will also participate in the construction of green railways with leading technologies and experience in the field to provide green power solutions for inter-city trains, metros & light rail projects to help Guangdong advance the development of mass public transportation infrastructure.

 

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