Archive for ‘competitiveness’

  |  
26/10/2019

Merger of China’s shipbuilding giants gets the green light

  • After nearly 10 years of planning, the country’s two shipbuilders will be reunited with a combined revenue of US$141.5 billion
China’s two shipbuilding giants have built hundreds of military vessels over the past few years as the country’s navy seeks to modernise rapidly. Photo: Xinhua
China’s two shipbuilding giants have built hundreds of military vessels over the past few years as the country’s navy seeks to modernise rapidly. Photo: Xinhua

China on Friday announced the merger of the country’s two largest state-owned shipbuilding giants, a step Beijing has been preparing for nearly a decade to strengthen the competitiveness of its shipbuilding industry.

The intention to merge the Shanghai-based China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) and the China Shipbuilding Industry Co (CSIC), based in Dalian, Northern Liaoning province, was announced in a statement on the website of the state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, China’s cabinet.

The merger would enable China to establish a shipbuilding giant with a combined revenue up to 1 trillion yuan (US$141.5 billion), capable of building vessels ranging from warships, like aircraft carriers, to civilian ships such as container ships and oil tankers, said a source familiar with the merger plan.

“This merger has been in the making since Hu Wenming, a former party leader of the state-owned aviation industry, was assigned to CSSC as party secretary in 2010,” the source said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

“The merger plan was put on the drawing board at a time when the world shipping industry had entered a golden period in 2009, and the business of CSSC and CSIC was at its peak, but [China’s] analysis indicated a decline was on the horizon, as has actually happened in recent years.”
Chinese shipbuilder touts warships in push to expand arms sales in region

CSIC and CSSC were part of the same group until 1999 when they were split into two separate entities. Since then, China has overtaken South Korea and Japan to become the world’s largest builder of merchant ships, a rise spurred by the boom in world trade and the country’s accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2001.

CSSC manages shipbuilding business in the east and south of China, while CSIC oversees activities in the northern and western parts of the country. Both are also primary contractors for PLA naval ships.

Commercial shipbuilding was the major source of revenue for both enterprises, given they were generally less technologically challenging and of lower cost to build, the source said.

“Developing and building warships for the PLA needs more manpower and more advanced technologies because naval ships, which are built for sea battles, take longer to build and require cutting-edge technologies, hence the higher costs,” the source said.

China tests new warships in live-fire drills near Vietnam
CSSC and CSIC have built hundreds of military vessels over the past few years as the Chinese navy seeks to modernise rapidly. These have included aircraft carriers, Type 055 destroyers, Type 075 amphibious assault ships and Type 094A nuclear submarines.
But, the source said, the two giants’ naval warship building mission would be cut back next year, as Beijing expected greater financial pressure as a result of slower economic growth. The merger would allow the two companies to pool their resources and enhance their competitiveness, especially in the development of mega vessels.
But the source said the two giants’ naval warships building missions would be cut back beginning next year as Beijing foresees greater financial pressure as a result of slower economic growth. The merger will allow the two companies to pool their resources and enhance their competitiveness, especially in areas of mega vessels.
“The merger is also part of China’s long-term maritime energy development plan to meet President Xi Jinping’s sustainable and clean energy goal, because China needs more giant vessels to help ship oil and gas from other countries,” the source said.
Source: SCMP

Posted in aircraft carriers, Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Beijing, China Shipbuilding Industry Co (CSIC), China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), China’s, China’s cabinet, Chinese State Council, civilian ships, competitiveness, container ships, Dalian, giants, green light, industry, Japan, Liaoning province, merchant ships, Merger, military vessels, oil tankers, PLA naval ships, Shanghai, shipbuilding, shipbuilding giants, South Korea, Uncategorized, Vietnam, warships, World Trade Organisation (WTO) | Leave a Comment »

17/10/2019

Vice premier calls for high-quality development in Chongqing

CHINA-CHONGQING-HAN ZHENG-RESEARCH TRIP(CN)

Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, learns about applications of smart robot and 5G technology in fields like remote driving, education and tourism, at an experience park in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, Oct. 15, 2019. Han made a research trip to Chongqing on Monday and Tuesday. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

CHONGQING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) — Vice Premier Han Zheng has called on southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality to promote high-quality development and continue to break new ground in all areas.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a research trip to Chongqing on Monday and Tuesday.

Chongqing should play a key role in advancing the large-scale development of the western region, promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the green development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

During his visit to an auto research and development center and a new-energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, Han stressed more input in research to make breakthroughs in key auto parts, and called for the building of homegrown auto brands, wider application of NEVs in urban public transport and the sustainable development of the industry.

Efforts should be made to foster intelligent industries, popularize intelligent technologies and knowledge, and develop intelligent economy, he added.

In his visit to a semi-conductor firm, Han encouraged local companies to enhance their competitiveness and asked local authorities to further improve the business environment.

Source: Xinhua

Posted in auto research and development center, Belt and Road Initiative, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), business environment, Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, Chongqing Municipality, competitiveness, green development, high-quality development, intelligent economy, intelligent industries, intelligent technologies and knowledge, NEVs, new-energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, semi-conductor firm, Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Uncategorized, urban public transport, Vice Premier Han Zheng, Yangtze River Economic Belt | Leave a Comment »

05/10/2015

India’s Competitive Ranking Surges on the Back of Modi Momentum – India Real Time – WSJ

India leapt 16 places to 55th position in the latest ranking of economies’ competitiveness released by the World Economic Forum Wednesday.

The Geneva-based think tank says India is a “bright spot” among larger emerging markets, which have shown a broader trend of either a decline or stagnation. It attributes the country’s big rise–which comes after five years of decline–to the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, which ignited optimism about the country’s limping policy changes.

“This dramatic reversal is largely attributable to the momentum initiated by the election of Narendra Modi, whose pro-business, pro-growth, and anti-corruption stance has improved the business community’s sentiment toward the government,” the WEF says in the report, which includes the Global Competitiveness Index 2015–2016 Rankings.

The ranking is based on the assessment of 140 countries on 12 parameters such as infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, institutions, health and education, among others.

The report says the quality of India’s institutions was judged more favorably in the latest ranking while its macro-economic stability has improved, with easing inflation and a gradual drop in the government’s budget deficit since its 2008 peak. Infrastructure has also improved, the report said.

“The fact that the most notable improvements are in the basic drivers of competitiveness bodes well for the future, especially the development of the manufacturing sector,” the report said.

However, India needs to improve its technological readiness: it is one of the least digitally connected countries in the world.Fewer than one in five Indians use the Internet regularly, and fewer than two in five own even a basic cell phone, according to the report.

The ranking of regional rival China has barely budged in the past six years as it has been dealing with rising production costs, an aging population and diminishing returns on the massive capital investments of the past three decades.

However, its 28th position–unchanged  from the previous year–is still much higher than India’s.

China remains by far the most competitive among larger emerging economies. “However, its lack of progress moving up the ranking shows the challenges it faces in transitioning its economy,” the report said.

Switzerland, Singapore and the U.S. were the top three ranked, unchanged from the previous year.

In Asia, Malaysia ranked 18th, up two places, Indonesia ranked 37th, down three notches while Thailand ranked 32nd, down one position.

Among the remaining BRICS group of countries, Brazil was at number 75, plummeting from 57 last year. The Russian Federation was at number 45, up from 53 and South Africa was at 49, better than 56 last year.

Source: India’s Competitive Ranking Surges on the Back of Modi Momentum – India Real Time – WSJ

Posted in competitiveness, Economics, India alert | 1 Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
  |  
CCChang

Law of Unintended Consequences

continuously updated blog about China & India

ChiaHou's Book Reviews

continuously updated blog about China & India

What's wrong with the world; and its economy

continuously updated blog about China & India