Li Keqiang

MNCs in the News-2016-06-10

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stressed to global CEO’s that his government would be acting to create a better environment for foreign investors. Xiaomi strikes a deal to buy roughly 1500 patents from Microsoft. Political uncertainties surrounding the US presidential election expected to lead Chinese firms to become more cautious about investing in the US. United States (US) Commerce Department gives a subpoena to Huawei Technologies as part of a probe in the latter’s exports or re-exports of US technology. Alibaba says it is cooperating with a US Securities and Exchange Commission probe into its accounting practices. Newly elected Philippines’’ President Rodrigo Duterte states that he would welcome Chinese bids on two major railway projects despite bilateral tensions. Japan’s Transport Ministry raids the headquarters of Suzuki Motor Corp. as part of an investigation into the validity of the company’s fuel economy tests. Mitsubishi Materials settles case of World War II slave laborers. Mitsui is cooperating with the Malaysian government on the massive Iskandar Malaysia project. A Japanese-Indonesian consortium Bhimsena Power Indonesia will move forward on a long-delayed coal-fired power plant in Indonesia. Nissan corporate headquarters will file an administrative litigation against the South Korean government for actions taken by the Korean Ministry of the Environment against it. Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction wins a 460 billion won deal from Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity & Water to build a desalination plant. Experts criticize the implementation of Indonesia’s 12 reform packages. Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) touts the positive effects of its new investment licensing service, but challenges remain. BKPM pleased by Japanese interest in multi-billion dollar projects. Uber seeks Thai Transport ministry approval for its drivers. Experts call upon the Vietnamese government to tighten environmental regulations for FDI projects.

MNCs in the News-2016-05-13

Inward FDI into China between January and April rises almost 5 percent over the same period last year. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang touts China’s plan to take measures to encourage greater inward foreign direct investment. China is investigating foreign and domestic drug firms for possible violations of competition laws and regulations. Foreign pharmaceutical firms in China take action to offset profit pressures flowing from government actions. Apple invests $1 billion in Didi Chuxing, following various adverse actions against it in China. Beijing Municipal Court denies Zhujiang Beverage the ability to use the Facebook name on its products. China outward deals in 2016 to date already have topped the figures for 2015. Some Chinese state-owned enterprises are adopting the sovereign immunity defense to escape legal liability in the U.S. SK Group explores cooperation possibilities with Kuwaiti government and businesses officials visiting Seoul. Using investor state dispute measures Hanocal Holdings is suing the Korean government for compensation over excess taxes. Indonesian President urges his Cabinet to do more to improve the ease of doing business and to garner an investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s. Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board Chairman Franky Sibarani touts his country’s reforms at the HSBC Economic Outlook 2016 conference. Indonesia President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo meets with Chinese State Council Yang Jiechi to discuss investment and trade cooperation. Vietnam calls on foreign firms to contribute more to Vietnam’s economic development.

MNCs in the News-2016-04-01

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang emphasizes China’s willingness to work harder to create a favorable environment for foreign investors. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stresses that the country’s planned rules on Internet domain names will not affect companies’ “normal operations.” China will set up its first overseas permanent military base in Djibouti. China’s Railway Rolling Stock Corp. aims to win large amounts of business in the developed world. In the face of US Senatorial concerns, Syngenta AG insists a China National Chemical Corp. takeover would not raise security issues. Japan may finance a multi-billion dollar deep-sea port project in Patimban, Indonesia. JR Tokai and its American partner Texas Central Partners (TCP) are going to ask the US Federal Railroad Administration to set new rules allowing an ultrahigh-speed to be built to Japanese bullet train specifications. Mercedes-Benz Korea not rolling along as far as the Korean government is concerned. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion probes if Korean companies should relocate from the shuttered Kaesong Industrial Complex to Vietnam. Korean businesses and association, in collaboration with the government, will establish a public-private consultative council to boost overseas Korean construction business. Thai Democrats challenge financing model for Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed train line. Vietnamese inward foreign direct investment for the first quarter of 2016 surges over the comparable period a year earlier.

MNCs in the News-2016-02-19

China’s State Council will work to expand service and merchandise trade by giving foreign businesses new opportunities. Chinese Ministry of Commerce think tank researcher expects Chinese outbound M&A to hit new record in 2016. Regulatory issues in China and abroad appear to impact some Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI). Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Europe) and the Chinese embassy in Spain scramble to react to Spanish police raid in connection with suspected money laundering by ICBC Madrid. COSCO formally declared the preferred bidder for the privatization of of Greece’s Piraeus port. Visit of South Korea’s Trade Minister to eBay Korea’s Incheon facility leads the latter to promise to help small Korean merchants tap the online export market. Volkswagen Korea faces ongoing pressure from Korean regulators in connection with recall orders relating to its emissions-data cheating cars. South Korean outward FDI experiences strong growth in 2015. South Korea accuses North Korea of using Kaesong moneys for its military programs. Korean government agencies mobilize to encourage foreigners to participate in the development of Korean startups. Indonesia’s e-commerce sector lauds government’s plan to open the e-Commerce to FDI. Indonesian president tells businesspeople at US-ASEAN Business Council Conference that his country will undertake more FDI-related reforms. Thai officials express optimism about the Thai-Chinese negotiations about a medium-speed rail project. Vietnamese and American companies strike numerous deals on the sidelines of the US-ASEAN Summit. Vietnam’s southern Binh Dinh Province will take steps to attract more FDI.

MNCs in the News-2015-11-27

Google Play app store ready to play in China. Chinese investment in the American financial sector dwarfs American investment in the Chinese financial sector. U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade meeting reportedly yields agreement on the protection of trade secrets and opens Chinese market further to certain types of American firms. Payoff of GlaxoSmithKline’s measures to recover from its 2014 China bribery scandal remain unclear. MOFCOM touts China’s opportunities to Japanese firms and hopes they will invest in “emerging sectors.” Premier Li Keqiang says China will invest $1 trillion overseas in the next five years. Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI) and contract work continues to record impressive results. Chinese firm private firm outward FDI (OFDI) shows impressive growth. Chinese OFDI in Africa, though, collapses. China promises $10 billion in infrastructure loans to Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries. Chinese train company motoring along in Malaysia. China National Corporation for Overseas Economic Cooperation fires up over Mexican energy sector investment. Chinese companies power up nuclear energy cooperation with Argentina. Japan opens its purse strings to win more infrastructure deals and counter China. Japan expresses its displeasure to Indonesia about Indonesia’s awarding of a high-speed rail contract to China. Japanese public private fund steps forward to finance Texas high-speed rail. Indonesia will act to revise its negative investment list to exclude e-commerce companies.

MNCs in the News-2015-11-06

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang promises better environment for German firms in China while seeking greater contributions from them at home and abroad. China announces, albeit with caveats, it will expand negative list system from coastal to interior areas. China’s four free trade zones (FTZs) experience boom in newly registered entities. China’s National Development and Reform Commission moves to draft clearer antitrust guidelines. China promises special operation to protect Disney trademark. Google and other blocks tech firms continue to seek opportunities in China. United States Trade Representative Michael Froman emphasizes TPP’s digital rules are not just about China. China’s China National Nuclear Corp. glows about possible mega nuclear deals with Argentina. HKND plans to move forward with its massive Nicaragua canal plan next year. Takata loses its best client and faces other US penalties for its deceptive actions. Japanese government lobbies Malaysia to go with Japanese high-speed rail option. Korea lobbies foreign firms to set up in Korea as a strategic base to access other countries with whom Korea has free-trade agreements. Volkswagen’s emission data scandal does not dent German car sales in Korea, but its sales plummet. Korea’s Trade Minister promises better environment for foreign business while business representatives press Korea to work harder. Korean Fair Trade Commission investigates Siemen’s Korea healthcare division for unfair trade practices. Korea firms work to secure major expressway project in Myanmar. Indonesia touts its plan to make things better for things in its special economic zones. Indonesia and India work to build cooperation in renewable energy which should provide new investment and trade opportunities. Malaysian officials stress the flexibilities the government won in TPP negotiations and the gains to be had for Malaysian companies. Malaysia’s Prime Minister emphasizes Malaysia’s strong place as a center for Islamic finance. Kedah state government in Malaysia encourages more investment from and cooperation with Qingdao.

MNCs in the News-2015-09-25

China announces plan to take its “Negative List” nationwide by 2018. Top Chinese leaders stress China’s continuing interest in attracting foreign direct investment. Analysts see Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meetings with hard-pressed American tech executives as a ploy to fend off US commercial espionage sanctions. Cisco moves to strike partnership with Chinese server maker Inspur in order to regain lost ground in China. Microsoft strikes partnerships with politically connected Chinese firms to bolster its business opportunities in China. Boeing strikes multi-billion dollar deal with Chinese firms and will build 737 completion center in China. US Chamber of Commerce executive expresses discontent with China’s new offer regarding a bilateral investment treaty (BIT). Chinese premier Li Keqiang encourages great outward investment and activity by Chinese SOEs. British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne pushes greater Chinese nuclear investment in the U.K. China and France agree to set up joint investment fund to target third countries. Korean government will probe whether Volkswagen and Audi cars sold in Korea have software that manipulates emissions data. Indonesia continues to strike investment and financial deals with China despite cancellation of high-speed rail plan. Indonesian government plans to give investors more opportunities in downstream energy sector. Foreign firms struggle with Indonesia’s ban on export of raw mineral ores. Thailand moves to address demands of Japanese SMEs.

MNCs in the News-2015-07-03

China passes National Security Law that alarms Foreign Businesses. Food scandal makes mincemeat out of OSI (China) Holding Co.’s bottom line. Li Keqiang calls on the European Union (EU) and China to make progress on an investment treaty. By 2020, China will be world’s largest cross-border investor including foreign direct investor (FDI). China and Brazil agree to set up $20 billion fund to support “bilateral capacity cooperation.” Chinese private firms are leading candidates to takeover rescued Portuguese bank. Vietnam undertakes dramatic changes to open its economy to foreign investors in a bid to boost economic growth. Vietnam moves to unify state supervision of all investment activities including FDI. Coca-Cola finds one of its local business joint venture associations in Myanmar is not so sweet.

MNCs in the News-2015-06-12

Zhejiang Province/Financial Times study suggests foreign investors see continued opportunities in China, but still expect certain policy improvements. Premier Li Keqiang courts high-level foreign executives to participate in China’s modernization and promises a supportive environment. China continues seeks independence from foreign radio frequency identification chip companies and their technologies. European Chamber of Commerce in China survey reviews pessimism among European Union (EU) investors in China. Chinese company strikes deal with Russia’s Transbaikal Regional Government to develop 115,000 hectares of uncultivated land. Indonesia seeks to improve its World Bank Ease of Doing Business Survey ranking. Indonesia will limit foreign ownership stakes in its banks. Vietnam Capital Markets Working Group presses government to pursue new policies to facilitate marketization of its State-owned Enterprises

MNCs in the News-2015-05-22

China sets up China Investment Corporation (CIC) subsidiary to support outward investment and the export of advanced industrial capacity. Chinese government will support expansion of e-commerce globally and sector’s growth within China. China’s investment in Brazil to surge in both form and amount. US Department of Energy (DOE) reported discourages Chinese investment in US LNG export projects. China National Petroleum Corporation affiliate concludes oil production expansion deal in Abu Dhabi. Indian Prime Minister Modi touts his “Made in India” program during a visit to Korea. Thai Deputy Prime Minister urges Japanese leader Abe Shinzo to encourage more Japanese investment in Thailand’s growing industrial sector. Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board fields complaints from Chinese investors during road show in Beijing and succeeds in concluding billions in investment commitments. Indonesian high-level delegation visit to Japan sparks new Japanese corporate investment and partnerships on coal gasification. Vietnam reports Japan is Vietnam’s second largest foreign investor and a major investor in processing and manufacturing.

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