.jpg)
Between 2005 and 2012, outbound investment by mainland firms
grew at an average pace of 35 per cent year on year.
The ravenous appetite of mainland firms for market share abroad and advanced technologies will make the world's second-largest economy a net global investor by 2017 as it continues to wield its economic influence, a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) says.
The study predicts that the mainland's outbound direct investment (ODI) will jump from US$115 billion last year to US$172 billion in 2017, exceeding the amount of foreign funds coming into the country, and driven by mainland firms' ambition to tap overseas markets and their growing awareness of enhancing research capabilities.
Robin Bew, the editorial director and chief economist of EIU, a sister company of The Economist magazine, said: "They want to go to places where there are real opportunities, opportunities for them to drive their revenues and enhance products and know-how.
"Within five years, China's role in the global economy will completely change, which is to be out, investing overseas."
Inbound foreign direct investment was one of the key drivers for the mainland's fast-growing economy in the past three decades as multinationals flocked to the world's most populated market, boosting its economic output and creating millions of jobs.
The mainland's outbound investment then took off in 2005 as Beijing encouraged state-owned giants to go overseas amid the country's increasing economic might.
Between 2005 and 2012, outbound investment by mainland firms grew at an average pace of 35 per cent year on year, with the mainland's global investment ranking climbing from 16th place to third place, after the United States and Japan.
By 2017, it would become the world's second-largest overseas direct investor, behind only the US, Bew said.
The EIU forecasts that mainland investor focus will shift from seeking natural resources to acquiring market access, technologies and brands, when they consider making investment.
Privately owned businesses have become increasingly active in chasing overseas investment projects, with the share of state-owned companies falling.
"One of the things they want to do is to learn from foreign research and development," Bew said. "They want to learn how innovations are done."
In 2005, mainland ODI flows were reported in just 17 predominantly resource-rich countries, according to data from the Heritage Foundation. By last year, that number had increased to 63.
The
US, Singapore and Hong Kong top the EIU's China Going Global Investment Index as the three most attractive destinations for mainland direct investment. The index is based on the notion that overseas investment will be motivated by a balance between wanting to take advantage of investment opportunities around the world and being mindful of the additional risks in moving into an overseas market.
"It's not surprising, given the very limited history of Chinese firms' going overseas, that they may make mistakes," Bew said. "But I think it's wrong to be pessimistic about the chances of Chinese firms succeeding overseas."
The EIU also found that openness to Chinese investment and cultural links with China played a significant role in attracting mainland firms' funds.
South China Morning Post
Please
contact us in case of Copyright Infringement of the photo sourced from the internet, we will remove it within 24 hours.
京公网安备 11010502030596号
