FDI

Hewlett-Packard (HP) sells majority stake in Chinese networking division to Tsinghua University. Beijing will open its service sector to spur greater foreign investment. Blocked Twitter actively courts Chinese companies at Shanghai event. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology contemplates new software security guidelines. Chinese gold miners in Sudan face unexpected loss of business opportunities due to sudden government termination order. Japanese Prime Minister Abe proposed huge increase in infrastructure financing to aid Japanese businesses and counter China. Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board and Indonesian Consulate General in Osaka sign agreement to cooperate on attracting Japanese investment into Indonesia’s maritime sector. Indonesia reaffirms it will takeover Total’s Mahakam gas block and a PT Freeport Indonesia controlled gold site. Vietnam expects law changes to spur new foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into its construction sector. Russia and Vietnam probe expanded investment cooperation.

United Nations Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD) data shows China reigns supreme in terms of inward foreign direct investment (FDI). Despite concerns, business and reform motives drive China’s Ministry of Finance to approve Chia Tai Bright Investment Co. Ltd.’s joint venture (JV) 20 percent stake in Citic Ltd. China moves to intensify support for domestic semiconductor sector to increase information security and advance domestic innovation. Information security in the banking sector becomes a priority for the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) raising new challenges for foreign firms. China’s requirements for foreign information technology company information disclosures provoke foreign business complaints and calls for “urgent discussions.” Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) representative says blockage of VPNs part of measures China adopting to protect Internet security. China will boost the internationalization of its firms through various measures and money. China and African Union sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance China’s involvement in African infrastructure and continental integration. Japanese auto parts maker Sanden settles pricing fixing case with the US Justice Department. The Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) probes 5 Japanese and German auto parts companies for price fixing. Seoul awards multiple trillion won public safety network contract to Huawei.