Monday, September 5, 2016 CHINA DAILY 34 SHANDONG SPECIAL Trade specialists a boon to local enterprises

By ZHAO RUIXUE [email protected] 714

Despite a global economic billion yuan slowdown, Shandong prov- the value of Shangdong’s ince’s new trade facilitation foreign trade in the fi rst half measures have led to a 2.4 of 2016 percent year-on-year increase in foreign trade in the fi rst half of this year. “Among the top 10 prov- 2.4 inces in foreign trade, Shan- dong is the only one that had percent growth in the three areas of the year-on-year growth of trade volume, exports and foreign trade for the same imports,” said Lyu Wei, dep- period uty chief of the Shandong Commerce Bureau. During the first half of Statistics from the bureau this year, the 21 foreign trade show the province’s foreign companies’ export business trade totaled 714 billion yuan reached 8.55 billion yuan. ($107 billion) in the fi rst half Shandong has also Weiqiao Textiles based in Shandong province is China’s leading exporter of textile products. JU CHUANJIANG / CHINA DAILY of this year. Exports amount- launched a series of mea- ed to 417.79 billion yuan, a sures to promote cross-bor- year-on-year increase of 2.7 der e-commerce. A total of percent and imports reached 26.74 billion yuan worth of 296 billion yuan, up 2 per- trade was conducted through cent. cross-border e-commerce Opportunity in G20 investment The growth can be partly platforms during the first attributed to the cultivation of half of this year, an increase specialized companies which of 27.3 percent year on year. help manufacturers conduct Another government mea- The world’s leading economies see great value in doing major deals with Shandong foreign trade business. sure to facilitate trade has Zhang Yi, general manager been giving more autonomy By JU CHUANJIANG According to the bureau’s In May, a $1 billion alumina the amount in the same period of Shandong Wanlin Package to oil refi ning companies in [email protected]. statistics, Shandong’s enter- project built and partly funded of last year. Of that amount, Co Ltd, had never expected to importing crude oil. cn prises have invested in more by China Hongqiao Co went German companies pledged have such a big market out As more local oil refi ner- than 4,000 projects overseas into production in Indonesia. and actual investments in the of China. The company was ies have been given approval ecause of the comple- in more than 140 countries and The project is designed to have province increased by 5.7 times already a major provider of to import crude oil, those mentary nature of regions, and the G20 members an annual output of 2 million and 8.1 times. packages for many Chinese imports reached 22.23 mil- modern industrial have become important desti- tons. According to the commerce brands, including dairy giant lion tons during the fi rst half Bstructures, invest- nations for investment from Yuhuang Chemical Group bureau, by the end of 2015, 203 Yili. of this year, generating 38.86 ment between Shandong Shandong. invested $1.5 billion in build- Fortune Global 500 enterprises Last year, the company billion yuan in revenue, 2.4 province and G20 members In the fi rst half of this year, ing a methanol project in had invested in 642 projects in assigned its foreign trade times more than the same became more active during Shandong businesses invested Louisiana, in the United Shandong, with $15.3 billion business to Jinan Qingong period in 2015. the fi rst half of this year. in 12 large overseas projects, States. With annual produc- worth of agreed investments. International Trade Co Ltd, Promoting trade with coun- Shandong’s investment in with investment totaling $6.39 tion capacity of 1.8 million Of these projects, 80 percent a provider of comprehensive tries along the Belt and Road G20 members grew rapidly in billion yuan ($1.04 billion). tons, it is expected to begin are from G20 members. Last foreign trade services. routes also helped Shandong’s that period, while businesses On April 1, for instance, production in 2017. About 70 year, sales revenue generated “Qingong is like a manager foreign trade grow. from those economies con- the Shandong Ruyi Group percent of the products will be from these projects totaled $33 for us,” Zhang said. “It not Exports to countries along tinued to invest in Shandong, announced the acquisition of exported to China. billion. only brings us more orders the routes reached 116.5 bil- with several major new proj- the SMCP Group in France. More companies are opti- “Projects from Fortune from new markets, but saves lion yuan during the fi rst half ects landing in the province. The deal cost Ruyi $1.47 billion. mistic about the overseas ser- Global 500 enterprises help us a lot of costs in conducting of this year, an increase of 11.5 Statistics from the Shandong SMCP mainly operates in the Expanding two- vice industry. In the fi rst half promote industrial upgrading foreign trade.” percent year-on-year. Of that, Commerce Bureau show that luxury fashion market, owning way investment of this year, investment from and economic restructuring in Qingong is one of 21 lead- exports to the Association in the first half of this year, the Sandro, Maje and Claudie Shandong enterprises in the Shandong,” said Li Guangjie, ing enterprises in Shandong of Southeast Asian Nations businesses from Shandong Pierlot brands. between Shandong foreign service sector reached director of the Shandong Acad- that provide foreign trade increased 8.2 percent and invested more than $8.4 bil- Yanzhou Mining Group, $2.89 billion, 3.9 times more emy of Social Sciences Institute services. those to Russia increased 64 lion overseas, with 70 percent which began investing in Aus- and the G20 mem- than in the same period last of International Economy. During the fourth session percent. going to G20 members. tralia 12 years ago, has invested year, according to the bureau Shandong has become a of the 12th National People’s Huang Shuren, vice-presi- As the global business com- $4 billion there and obtained bers has become a of commerce. hot investment destination Congress in March, Premier dent of Yantai International munity is generally optimistic 5.3 billion tons of coal resourc- Yantai Nanshan Group for South Korean enterprises. Li Keqiang called for the Container Terminals Co Ltd, about the investment environ- es, with an annual output of win-win measure bought $170 million worth Nearly 5,000 South Korean development of enterprises said the number of contain- ment in Shandong, 19 Fortune high-quality coal of more than of shares in Virgin Australia companies — including Sam- that provide comprehensive ers sent to South Korea from Global 500 enterprises in G20 4 million tons. It is now Austra- for both.” Holdings Ltd, a low-cost air sung, SK, LG, Lotte, Doosan foreign trade services. the company’s terminals saw members invested in 31 proj- lia’s largest independent coal carrier. and Hyundai Heavy Industries Since then, the local gov- a year-on-year increase of ects in the province in the fi rst company. Guo Shuqing, governor of Meanwhile, more enterpris- — have invested in the prov- ernment launched measures 10 percent during the first half of this year. More manufacturing enter- Shandong es from G20 members have ince. to encourage comprehensive half of this year, thanks to “Shandong has many prises have begun to invest increased their investments in Samsung’s printer produc- foreign trade companies to the China-ROK Free Trade advantages in cooperating overseas, spending $3.28 bil- Shandong. tion base in Weihai produces provide import and export Agreement. with G20 members,” said Guo lion on overseas projects dur- In the fi rst half of this year, 10 million printers every year, services for manufacturing Cashing in on the FTA, Shuqing, governor of Shan- ing the fi rst half of this year. 70 Shandong attracted $9.38 bil- and is now the company’s larg- enterprises so that they can Shandong has developed dong. “Expanding two-way The projects are in energy, lion in actual foreign invest- est overseas production facil- focus more on production China-ROK industrial and investment between Shan- mineral products, home appli- percent ment, an increase of 8.1 per- ity. Doosan has invested in a than trade. demonstration parks in Yan- dong and the G20 members ances, equipment manufactur- of Shandong’s overseas invest- cent year-on-year. Investment project in Yantai that has made “As a new business model, tai and Weihai to promote has become a win-win mea- ing, textiles and garments, rub- ment went to G20 members in from European Union coun- that city China’s largest excava- the foreign trade companies cooperation. Distribution sure for both.” ber and chemicals. the fi rst half of this year tries totaled $1.04 billion, twice tor production base. have greatly helped the small centers for commodities and medium-sized enterpris- from the countries along the es in tapping overseas mar- Belt and Road routes have kets,” said Cai Peian, an o - been built in Qingdao, Yantai, cial at Shandong Commerce Weifang, Weihai, Rizhao and Innovation drives Shandong’s economic growth Bureau. Linyi to boost foreign trade.

By ZHAO RUIXUE “In addition to developing new prod- ucts to meet customers’ demands, we A privately owned plant that was on are exploring new marketing methods,” the verge of bankruptcy 35 years ago said Gao Jianping, an executive at the has now developed into a renowned Shandong branch of China National bio-engineering company thanks to its Petroleum. “Innovation is carried out commitment to innovation. in every area of our work.” Pointing at piles of corncobs at the Gao said the company is also promot- company’s headquarters, Tang Yilin, ing the fuel online, where sales reached chairman of Jinan Shengquan Group, 6 million yuan in May. said they were the source of the com- In March, Shandong received approv- pany’s wealth, but if there had been no al from the State Council to build a innovation and technological improve- national innovation demonstration ments, the source would have dried up. zone. The zone is designed to cover “Innovation, research and develop- six high-tech industrial parks in Jinan, Construction machines produced by Shandong Lingong ment are the soul and lifeblood of our Qingdao, Zibo, Weifang, Yantai and Construction Machinery Co are exhibited at a bauma show in company,” Tang said, adding that the Weihai. Germany. JU CHUANJIANG / CHINA DAILY company spent 150 million yuan ($22.5 In the zone, government intervention million) on innovation each year in a will be further reduced to create a more bid to develop new value from corn- Workers assemble a Foton car at the company’s plant in Weifang. Production at the amicable environment for innovation cobs. Currently, elements extracted facility is projected to reach 2 million units by 2020 . WANG QIAN / CHINA DAILY and entrepreneurship, according to from corncobs, such as furfural and local o cials. fi bers have been used to produce more To attract talent for innovation, the than 100 kinds of products. Thanks to their efforts, 135 enter- reform depends on whether it can meet province released a series of measures Shengquan is among thousands of prises in Shandong saw their revenues the demands of the market and soci- including fi nancial support, as well as enterprises, both privately owned and exceed 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) last ety,” said Zhang Xinwen, director of the a package of support policies cover- State-owned, in Shandong province year, of which nine exceeded 100 bil- Shandong State-owned Assets Supervi- ing children’s education, household that are seeking development through lion yuan. Fifty-one Shandong-based sion and Administration Commission. registration, spouse’s work and social innovation, as the local government enterprises have been listed in the top Since May, the Shandong branch of security for professionals who work in encourages enterprises to explore sup- 500 enterprises in China in terms of China National Petroleum Corp has the province. ply-sided reforms. revenue. presented a new energy-e cient fuel Shandong has about 360 postdoctor- Statistics from the Shandong pro- A major part of Shandong’s economy, to users in 12 cities across Shandong. al research centers for professionals to vincial government show that 4,156 State-owned enterprises are carrying Jointly developed by the Shandong do R&D in a variety of fi elds, including innovation projects were implemented out innovation-driven reforms to better branch and BASF China, the fuel oil new energy, environmental protection, last year, creating 740 new products and fi t into markets. is said to be more environmentally machinery, electronics, petrochemicals, Samsung’s printer production base in Weihai is the company’s 517 new technologies. “Whether an SOE makes a successful friendly. biopharmaceuticals and healthcare. largest overseas production facility. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY