I later research, was a part of more than 25 percent of the largest P3s in the U.S. over the last 19 years. China, I ponder, is the world’s largest PPP. From afar, the country seems more business partner than regulatory body when it comes to infrastructure initiatives.
ABOVE: “The World’s Best Airport”: “Conde Nast Traveler” ranked Beijing’s airport the best in the world for safety, cleanliness and luggage delivery. Built to impress arriving guests for the 2008 Olympics, Terminal III (pictured) of Beijing Capital International Airport is China’s modern main gate to the world. Terminal III is larger than Heathrow Airport and it is the largest terminal in the world built in one construction phase.
Into the Orient Jim bids me farewell as he walks me down the hall to introduce me to Kent Marshall, Granite’s guru of P3s, a.k.a. vice president of development. Not surprisingly, Kent has spent much time honing his craft in Asia. We discuss how P3s are slowly taking root in the United States. In Europe, P3s seem to be the sledge hammer—the EU’s favorite tool.
London’s fog was really smog. America followed taking its turn at charcoaling downtowns. Today, it’s Beijing’s turn. Flying over the Arctic, I land into three days of darkness. Absent desert winds, a thick smog-fog, as one ex-pat’s small son calls it, settles over the city. An executive team of Navistar’s, the manufacturer of International’s truck engines, is delayed. I’m holed up for days in the German owned Kempinski Hotel. A nice place to be while under house arrest.
ABOVE: Beijing’s Ring Roads: Beijing’s Ring Roads, or beltways, are now six in number. There are plans for a seventh. Rationing access to roadways, the government allows cars to take the road on alternating days according to license plate numbers. Green and white signage on the ring roads looks similar to U.S. signage.
of Granite Construction. Waiting in the lobby, I witness work on what I call: Granite’s Wall of Fame—a timeline of the company’s 100 years. Jim’s confident in the corner office. His space, like his appearance, is impeccable—the windows are spotless. Jim reflects, “We’ve weathered the downturn and emerged stronger. Our goal is to continue to grow, just as we have over the last 90 years. We’re excited about what’s in store for Granite as we look to expand through acquisition with like minded companies to build our nation’s infrastructure.” Granite,
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TransportationBuilder
As Navistar’s guest speaker at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show—now the world’s largest with over 1,200 models—I’ve been invited to partake in the review of their short-listed public relations firms, of which one will assist them in their China operations. Every U.S. firm doing business starts out in an arranged marriage with a joint venture partner. Navistar’s joint venture partner in China is JAC trucks. It’s being hailed as the first U.S./Chinese truck partnership in the country.
Jan.-Feb. 2012