Overview

Invest in America

Launched in March 2007, Invest in America is the primary U.S. Government mechanism to manage foreign direct investment promotion. Efforts are focused on outreach to foreign governments and investors, support for state governments’ investment promotion efforts, and addressing business climate concerns.

China’s Outbound Investment

China’s outbound investment has experienced rapid growth since the Chinese government adopted a “Go Global” strategy in 2002. From 2002 to 2006, the average annual growth rate of China’s non-financial overseas investment was 60%. By the end of 2006, more than 5,000 Chinese investment entities established some 10,000 companies in 172 countries. According to a report by China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), China’s cumulative overseas investment reached $90.63 billion in 2006.

The “Go Global” strategy has contributed to the rapid growth of China’s outbound investments. The Chinese government offers incentives to Chinese companies who are interested in investing overseas in the areas of taxation, foreign currency supply, and financing. Priority sectors include light industry, textiles and garments, electrical home appliances, machinery, construction, telecommunications, energy, resource development, and biotech.

Despite the rapid growth, China’s overseas investment is still in its development stage. According to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, China’s direct outbound investment in 2006 ranked 13th in the world, and accounted for 2.72 percent of the world total. A survey conducted by McKinsey & Company on China’s Top 500 companies shows that most of the large Chinese companies have not made any investments abroad. In China’s most active sectors such as technology, media, and telecom, only 50% of the large companies have invested overseas.

Asia remains the largest destination for China’s outbound investment. Non-financial investment in Asia accounts for 43% of the total in 2006. Many Chinese companies are now interested in investment opportunities in North America and Europe. China’s non-financial investment in the U.S. was $231.8 million in 2005 and $198.34 million in 2006. Chinese companies have invested in the U.S. by setting up representative offices, sales offices, mergers and acquisitions, and establishing joint ventures with U.S. firms.

The AccessAmerica Directory is a new initiative to promote American service companies on our Chinese language Website to investors in China looking to do business in the U.S. This initiative, one of our customized business facilitation services, offers the opportunity to promote the services of your U.S. company to prospective international customers and expand export sales. This pilot piloit initiative launches in June 2009.

Key Chinese Organizations

Investment Promotion Agency, Ministry of Commerce of Commerce of the P.R.C. (CIPA)
Tel: (86 10) 85226556
Fax: (86 10) 85226558
Website: http://www.fdi.gov.cn

China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)
Tel: (86 10) 88075000
Fax: (86 10) 68030747
Website: http://www.ccpit.org

(Organizations in Shanghai)
Shanghai Foreign Investment Development (FID) Board
Tel: (86 21) 6236-8800
Fax: (86 21) 6236-8024
Website: www.fid.org.cn/en/r/index.php

Useful Links

Links to non-Commercial Service organizations are provided solely as a convenience to our users. The Commercial Service makes no representations about the accuracy or suitability of the information provided on the following web sites. The FCS is not responsible for the content of the individual organization webpages found through these links, and their inclusion here should not be understood as an endorsement of these organizations.

Department of Commerce official website
Council of American States in China (CASIC)

Major Shows / Exhibitions

The 13th China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT)
Date: September 8-11, 2009
Venue: Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
Website: http://www.chinafair.org.cn

U.S. Commercial Service Contact Information for Invest in America

Beijing Office:
Tel: (86-10)8531-3000
Fax: (86-10)8531-3701
Gwen Lyle

Shanghai Office:
Tel: (86-21)6279-7630
Fax: (86-21)6279-7639
Deborah Cooney

Guangzhou Office:
Tel: (86-20)8667-4011
Fax: (86-20)8666-6409
Natassha Liang

Chengdu Office:
Tel: (86-28)8558-3992
Fax: (86-28)8558-3991
Misha Cao

Shenyang Office:
Tel: (86-24)2322-1198
Fax: (86-24)2322-2206
Yasue Pai