Operating in China Author:The Economist Intelligence Unit Operating in China is a sequel to the Economist Intelligence Unit's best-selling Operating joint ventures in China, published in 1993. Since then, the business environment in China has changed dramatically. Foreign investment is still strong and foreign investors can choose from a number of investment options. The wholly foreign-owned enterpr... more »ise (WFOE) is now a more popular investment vehicle than the joint venture for those setting up in China, and foreign companies are increasingly investing in prohibited sectors such as telecommunications through the management-consultancy-with-revenue-sharing formula. However, many foreign operations in China still struggle to make a profit and the operating environment has become even more complex. Operating in China provides numerous guidelines for dealing with the most important issues when running a Chinese business venture. The first three chapters will help you to: * understand foreign-investment guidelines * familiarise yourself with the status of intellectual property rights * choose the investment vehicle most suitable for your business objectives by understanding the pros and cons of joint ventures and WFOEs In addition, the extended preface provides an overview of today's China and the broad issues faced there by foreign businesses. The remainder of the report examines important operational issues which are vital once your business is running or when you are seeking to expand: * taxation * finance * finding and retaining staff * sourcing raw materials * meeting pollution standards * devising successful strategies for distribution and marketing Operating in China lets you benefit from the good and bad experiences of other businesses investing in China. The case studies reveal major multinational companies' strategies in China, across a variety of industries. For example, you will... * discover how the German chemicals giant BASF uses an innovative holding-company structure to unify its diverse business activity in China * gain an insight into Procter & Gamble's anti-piracy strategy * learn about Volkswagen's techniques for securing its suppliers * find out about Otis Elevator's training and compensation schemes Other companies examined in this report include: * Heinz * San Miguel * Amoco * SC Johnson * Motorola * Asea Brown Boveri * Shangri-La * Avon« less