Islamic finance and China
China has become the world’s fastest growing energy consumer in the world. As the country develops, and the need for energy – specifically oil – grows, China wiill look to deepen strategic relationships with oil rich Gulf states. A result of that will be the opening of China’s banking sector to Middle East investors who follow Islamic […]
Shanghai rental rates for expats ranked 8th in world, Beijing 11th
The average rental rate for a three-bedroom in an expatriate community in Shanghai is US$4,000 per month according to a recent survey by ECA International. Shanghai rental rents rose five percent from the previous year, while the rental rate for a similar apartment in Beijing dropped six percent from 2005 to an average price of US$3,840, for […]
Shanghai – Hangzhou maglev train shelved
Didn’t we just talk about pork? The maglev train that was to connect Shanghai and Hangzhou appears headed to the dustbin of history. The project has been officially put on hold due to radiation concerns according to Xinhua. “The project has been suspended in line with the arrangements of the municipal government,” said a spokesman with […]
Throughput capacity of Chinese ports to hit 8 billion tons by 2010
The handling capacity of China’s ports is expected to hit 8 billion tons and 170 million TEUs in 2010, according to information from the on-going China Ports and Terminals Summit held in north China’s Tianjin Municipality. China’s ports cargo handling capacity totaled 5.6 billion tons and 93 million TEUs in 2006, both the biggest in the world for […]
Luxury brands target China’s second tier cities for expansion
We’ve been looking at movement into second tier cities recently and China Daily today ran an article on just that. The piece by Jiang Jingjing looks at the movement of top luxury brands into these emerging markets. The rapidly growing purchasing power and appetite for high-end products in small cities have drawn the attention of top […]
FDI in second tier cities: investors flock to Chongqing
Several international companies have recently set up shop in Chongqing as more and more foreign investors look to China’s western second tier cities. With the rising costs of land, labor, energy and other inputs to manufacturing making the coastal regions less attractive to companies looking for places to park their factories, the inland second and third […]
China’s iron ore imports soar in first four months of year
Propelled by rapid economic growth, China’s imports of iron ore surged 23.3 percent in the first four months of 2007 from a year earlier, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC). Iron ore imports rose to 133.6 million tons from 108.3 million tons in the same period last year, the GAC said. It added […]
Property rights tested in Suzhou
The struggle between property owners and developers is an old tale, but one that has become ever more contentious, and exciting to watch, here in China with the recent passage of the controversial property law. While that law is set to come into effect Oct. 1, 2007, there has been no end to interesting stories […]