Take Root in the Local Market to Grow

--Jia Qinglin Holds Talks with Representatives of Chinese Businesses in Thailand

The first Chinese bank in Thailand, largest market share in the Thai telecom equipment market, the famous RCC dam in Asia and so many eye-catching landmark buildings of Thailand… Chinese companies are very active and pretty successful in the Thai market.

On April 22 local time, visiting Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Jia Qinglin took time especially off his busy schedule to hold talks with representatives of Chinese companies doing business in Thailand. The goal is to understand their business operation, collect first-hand information, strengthen policy guidance and help more Chinese companies grow better and stronger in the process of "going abroad".

The news that Jia would hold face-to-face talks with Chinese companies present in Thailand spread quickly and made those entrepreneurs who had strived so hard to build their presence abroad feel deeply encouraged. In the newly decorated meeting room of the Chinese embassy in Thailand, representatives of Chinese businesses in Thailand gathered together very early. They represent the state-owned companies, private ones, old Chinese brands and emerging ones. They all have a lot to report to Chairman Jia and look forward to sharing what they have done, heard and thought in Thailand with people of the motherland.

Che Jun, chairman of the council of Chinese enterprises in Thailand first of all reported to Chairman Jia the 10 years of history of the council and then introduced the council's efforts of building a sound environment for the growth of Chinese businesses, facilitating business development of Thai companies in China and promoting China-Thailand friendship.

Che is also President of the Bank of China (BOC) Bangkok branch. He is very proud of the BOC's development in Thailand. He told Chairman Jia that as the first Chinese bank in Thailand the BOC has made significant breakthroughs in the fields of online banking, bank card business and e-channel building. In the sector of RMB exchange rate quote, the BOC Bangkok branch has built a benchmark position in the Thai market.

Li Dang, General Manager of Genertec, reported from the perspective of business growth and environmental protection how his company makes money and promotes China-Thailand environmental protection cooperation in the water sector.

According to Li, the joint efforts between China and Thailand to solve the Mekong river basin pollution under the Greater Mekong Subregion economic cooperation mechanism have achieved major progress. Today, more than 10% of technologies and equipment used in water supply and waste water disposal in Thailand come from China.

As a leading Chinese company of power construction technology export, Power Construction Corporation entered the Thai market as early as in the 1980s. The RCC dam which used to be largest dam in Asia is a landmark construction project of the company. After more than 30 years of operation in Thailand, the company has accumulated rich experience.

Huang Baodong, Vice General Manager of the company said that localized operation, team work, partnership with Thai companies and industrial upgrading are the secret weapons of the company's success in Thailand. He also suggested that the Chinese government increase support for Chinese companies to invest abroad, including strategic planning, financial, policy and institutional support.

Other representatives also introduced their operations and experience in Thailand:

Biggest share in the Thai telecom and IT equipment market, top 4 in the Thai container transport market, annual capacity of more than 1.5 million sets, etc. These numbers themselves explain the achievements of Chinese companies in the Thai market.

Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Zone which is already pretty famous, Huawei which is the earliest Chinese private company entering the Thai telecom market, Haier whose market share of part of home appliances in Thailand even exceeds that of some European, US and Japanese brands… These are all big names in the Thai market. Thanks to their extremely hard work there, they are where they are today.

After listening to the lively, vivid and touching introductions of Chinese entrepreneurs, Jia said emotionally, "For many years, being far away from your motherland and families, you have gone through hardships and worked diligently to explore the overseas market and made great contributions to promoting China-Thailand friendly cooperation. Here, on behalf of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, I'd like to express sincere greetings and gratitude to all of the entrepreneurs and employees of Chinese companies in Thailand!" His affirmative, complimentary and encouraging tone made the audiences feel very warm.

Hearing that the council of Chinese enterprises in Thailand still faces some problems at present, Jia carefully asked about the problems, including funding and daily management of the council. He pointed out that "China and Thailand enjoy unique advantages and favorable conditions to expand and deepen the bilateral mutually beneficial business cooperation. This lays down the solid foundation for us to speed up the implementation of "going abroad" strategy." The promising future described by Jia made the audiences feel deeply encouraged and they responded with enthusiastic applauses.

To consolidate friendship and broaden pragmatic cooperation is an important goal of Jia's visit. As China's second largest trade partner among ASEAN members, Thailand has conducted productive business cooperation with China in recent years. Last year, China's investment in Thailand was worth US$950 million, making it the second largest source of foreign investment in Thailand.

The joint action plan for China-Thailand strategic cooperation within the next 5 years announced during the visit of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to China last week will inject greater vigor for the development of bilateral business cooperation.

Jia also briefed the entrepreneurs about the NPC and CPPCC sessions which were just concluded and the comprehensive plan for economic and social development this year. He told them that the government work report this year makes it very clear China's reform and opening up has entered into a new stage and the role and status of foreign trade and two-way investment have changed profoundly.

"Strengthening general guidance, intensifying policy support, simplifying examination and approval procedure and improving services…" The words of Jia further consolidated the confidence of Chinese entrepreneurs to accelerate growth in Thailand.

Growing together with the local market and bringing benefits to the local community, Chinese enterprises, by doing business in Thailand, have played their role of creating jobs and boosting the local economic growth. Haier alone hires more than 2,300 employees. 80% of Huawei's employees are Thai people.

Many Chinese companies also participate in social work actively and donate money to build schools in Thailand. In particular, when Thailand suffered the massive flood in the latter half of last year, Chinese enterprises extended help and donated materials and cash worth 30 million Baht, which was highly appreciated by the Thai society.

Those efforts have built not only the good image of Chinese enterprises but also a solid social foundation for China-Thailand friendship and cooperation.

Jia encouraged them to further expand and deepen business cooperation with Thailand and improve the capacity building of "going abroad" and asked the officials of related departments present at the meeting to actively create an enabling business environment for Chinese enterprises in Thailand.

The meeting room was once again filled with warm applauses.

Entrepreneurs said the fact that Chairman Jia took time off his busy schedule during the visit to hold talks with them shows the great importance and close attention paid by the Party Central Committee and the State Council to Chinese enterprises doing business abroad. Chairman Jia's guiding remarks make them feel very excited and enable them to see the direction clearly. Today more and more Chinese enterprises are making outbound investment and exerting greater influence and they must do a better job in the future. They will carefully digest the instructions of Chairman Jia, follow the requirements of the Party Central Committee and further improve themselves under new domestic and international circumstances.