TPT July 2008

Sold Out: Takes

A s regularly evidenced in the industry news section of Tube & Pipe Technology , there is an increasing clamour from international companies to establish regional offices and subsidiaries in China. Scattered across the length and breadth of China’s enormous 9.6 million km 2 territory, a profusion of offices and manufacturing facilities have been set up from Hong Kong and Guangzhou, to Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing.

And there is little wonder as business in China remains highly lucrative and seemingly boundless. In 2007, the Chinese economy stood at US$3.2 trillion GDP (purchasing power parity), with around US$75 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI). China’s tube and pipe import and export activity continues to prosper, with the government’s 11 th five-year plan (2006-2010) now well underway. The new five-year plan includes the

construction of four major pipelines for oil and natural gas transport (25,000km in total), with completion due in 2010. To complement this economic and industrial vitality, the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing are a fine opportunity for China to break down barriers and showcase Chinese culture. Likewise, Tube China 2008 will also be a great place for the tube industry to remove business barriers and engender cooperation.

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J uly 2008

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