M e m b e r M ag a z i n e fo r t h e Sw e d i s h C h a m b e rs o f Co mm e rc e i n H o n g Ko n g a n d C h i n a
No.03
2012
6
Johan Nylander Confusing the image of China
20
ZZ Zhang Time for a new challenge
28
Jรถrgen Halldin A hands-on diplomat in Hong Kong
Racing up the value chain
China is moving towards being a creative and innovative economy, but there are many obstacles on the road ahead.
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CONTENTS
No.032012 10
4 Editorial 6 Opinion: Johan Nylander 8 Snippets 10 Cover story:
Racing up the value chain
20 Executive talk: ZZ Zhang
20
Cover photo: iStockphoto INQUIRIES Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Room 2503, 25/F, BEA Harbour View Centre 56, Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2525 0349 E-mail: chamber@swedcham.com.hk Web: www.swedcham.com.hk General Manager: Eva Karlberg Finance & Administration Manager: Maria Tornving Interns: Elin Bornefalk, Lovisa Wallenberg
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INQUIRIES Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China Room 313, Radisson Blu Hotel 6A, East Beisanhuan Road, Chaoyang District Beijing 100028, People’s Republic of China Tel: +86 10 5922 3388, ext 313 Fax: +86 10 6462 7454 E-mail: beijing@swedishchamber.com.cn Web: www.swedishchamber.com.cn General Manager: Yvonne Chen Office Manager Beijing: Karin Roos Webmaster & Finance Assistant: Jaycee Yang Administration Assistant: Vika Jiao
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DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012 3
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EDITORIAL
When it’s time to do business, we’re exceptionally open.
Mats Harborn Chairman Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China
Ulf Ohrling Chairman Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Post-it or ‘Paste-it’? Dear Reader, Creativity and innovation are strengths often attributed to people and companies from the Nordic region. China now says it wants to be an innovative nation, at least from a policy perspective. R&D centres are being encouraged to set up in China, and a slew of policy measures are being rolled out, ostensibly to promote creativity and innovation. Meanwhile, hanging over the entrance to the assembly hall at Uppsala University is a sign that reads, “To think freely is great, but to think right is greater.” It is hard to argue with the logic of this catch-phrase, but is it promoting creativity? The right to make and acknowledge mistakes without sanctions is, after all, one of the cornerstones of creativity. And whether this is compatible with Confucianism and the Chinese school system amid ever increasing competition for the highest grades and demands from parents is worth considering. It is possible to argue that the Postit note would never have been invented in China – and for a number of reasons. First, the researcher who came up with the recipe
for the glue had been originally tasked with creating a super-glue, but instead ended up with something that barely held two pieces of paper together. How would a Chinese researcher have tackled that situation? He or she would probably have buried any evidence of such abject failure. The American researcher working for 3M, on the other hand, shared the failure with everyone in the laboratory and they all had a good laugh. Would a Chinese employee have shared the failure for anyone including the boss to see? The recipe was kept in a drawer, and years later, it occurred to a fellow co-worker who was having problems trying to mark songs in a hymn-book without damaging the book that the super-weak glue could be the way to get his notes to stick. The Post-it note was born. On another note (pun intended), we regularly hear about cheating in the academic world in China. Papers, ideas and concepts are “stolen”, and the problem is rife. In this case, “Paste-it” seems to be the prevailing principle. This of course happens all over the world and is not an isolated Chinese phenomenon, but it is definitely a major problem in China. Is the pressure of getting it right so big that cheating is seen as a way forward?
So, how can Nordic management help in creating a true and honest creative environment? Probably the best way is to keep allowing people to make mistakes, even repeatedly; to foster an open and fear-free working environment; and to promote the sharing of ideas, successes and failures, while maintaining a good team spirit. Here is probably one area where Nordic management- and learning-style can be successfully combined with the hardworking and future optimistic Chinese work force in a way that can be mutually beneficial. A real life example of this is the work method developed by Scandic Sourcing, the recipient of this year’s Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China Innovation Award. This company has come up with a way of assisting Chinese suppliers to meet with international operating standards. The success is built on a combination of education, encouragement and engagement. By supporting free thinking and initiatives, Scandic Sourcing gives suppliers the tools to achieve substantial and sustainable improvements. In other words, to think freely is perhaps equally important as getting it right.
Every business has a different story and a different goal. We understand that. Over many years in this market of unique opportunities, we’ve developed the local knowledge, resources and connections needed to turn ambitions into reality. That’s why we’re one of the most well-established northern European banks in the region. For corporates, financial institutions and private banking clients, we’re ready to listen and cater to your needs – in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Delhi. Discover more at www.sebgroup.com/asia
4 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
Electricity consumption is scarcely growing after years of double-digit gains. Rail cargo volumes are only barely up. New bank loans dropped more than expected in July.
Confusing the image of China Many people in the West would benefit from a more realistic picture of China. It is easy to be impressed by China’s economic success story, but there is more to the picture than first meets the eye, writes Johan Nylander, a Swedish business journalist based in Hong Kong. TEXT: Johan Nylander, johan@swedishwire.com
M
ention the name Huawei and my summerhouse neighbour on the Swedish island of Gotland frowns. For many years he’s been working as an international salesperson for advanced telecom systems at Ericsson and he tells me that just the sight of the Chinese competitor’s logo sends shivers down the spine of the organisation. That was not the case a few years ago. Then people were laughing at Huawei and mocking it for its low quality and discount prices. “Today, they have the same low prices as before, but the quality is the same as ours,” he says. “Our last remaining competitive advantage is good customer-service.” But are the Chinese really that bad at service? Just as my neighbour and many of his colleagues are changing their views about China, many other people in the West would benefit from having a more realistic picture of this exciting new superpower. Too often, people reach for the same old clichés and platitudes. Swedish media appears to be getting better at presenting nuanced views, but unfortunately, all too often, the result is over-simplified, sometimes to the point of absurdity. As a correspondent for Sweden’s national news agency, TT, and a freelancer for 6 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
a number of publications, I know how easy it is to get lured into stereotypical stories. They sell. They get read. Especially if they are about how China is run by a tyrannical clique of old Maoist men who rule with an iron fist, or about how China will save the global economy. This is, of course, not unique to Sweden; most international bestsellers on China have titles such as, The Problem of China or When China Rules the World. This polarisation is misleading, and doesn’t do justice to what is a multifaceted culture. It can also lay the groundwork for bad decision-making. So, let’s confuse the picture. Although the Chinese economic revolution of the past three decades has proven to be an awe-inspiring journey from poverty to global power, the state of the economy is not as shiny as it first appears. From a short-term perspective, this is obvious; Chinese stocks are at a 40-month record low, while investors are increasingly betting the yuan will depreciate and are shorting the currency. Recently, over lunch, I asked the equity market director of Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong about her view of the Chinese economy. She simply gestured with a thumbs-down.
The state of the economy is not as shiny as it first appears.” Looking long term, the picture is even gloomier. Li Keqiang, China’s premier in waiting, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying back in 2007 that China’s official GDP figures are man-made and therefore unreliable. Instead, Mr Li focuses on three sets of data: electricity consumption, rail cargo and bank loans. So how do those numbers look? Electricity consumption is scarcely growing after years of double-digit gains. Rail cargo volumes are only barely up, and new bank loans dropped more than expected in July. You can also add to this equation, a troubled real-estate market, massive overcapacity in manufacturing and a swelling, half-illegal
In many parts of the world – particularly those ruled by religious fundamentalists or mad warlords – this Chinese model might seem like a dream.” shadow financial system. No wonder more and more economists – even within China – say the economy is actually in recession. The government’s answer so far has been more stimuli and money-printing, just as the Federal Reserve in the United States and European Central Bank in Europe have been doing. But wait, there is more. Throughout its history, China has been ruled by man – as opposed to the law – and this also breeds risks. There is no shortage of stories about SwedishChinese joint ventures that have been raided by their local counterparts. I spoke with the Swedish manager of a joint venture in Chengdu who was basically forced to fill two full-size cardboard boxes with cash, put them in the backseat of his car and deliver them as a bribe to a key supplier. Having your joint venture “stolen” has happened to many Swedish companies, he explained – even to well known stock-listed industrials. The magnitude of the country’s damaging dishonesty can be illustrated with the following example from a television show. A six-year-old girl from Guangzhou not so long ago told a TV presenter, “When I grow up, I want to be an official.” “What kind of official?” the presenter asked. “A corrupt official,” came the reply, “because corrupt officials have a lot of things.”
It is easy to be impressed by China’s economic success story, but there is a lot more to the picture than first meets the eye. Let us turn our eyes in a more encouraging direction. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have every right to attack China on its inadequate and flawed human rights. But looking back one, two or three decades you quickly realise how much progress the country has actually made. In place of Mao suits, people can chose the clothes they want. They are free to travel around the country and abroad. The internet has created a vast platform for people to express opinions and attitudes (although censors are on their tails). The one-child-policy is loosening up, with families in some provinces being allowed to have more children. Liberalisation is even leading to a boom in gay culture. In terms of these issues, Premier Wen Jiabao blindsided many by switching tack in 2007, declaring at his annual press conference that “democracy, law, freedom, human rights, equality and fraternity” did not belong exclusively to capitalism, but were “the fruits of civilisation jointly formed through the entire world’s slow course of historical development”. You might say there is a silent take-it-or-
leave-it agreement between the government and the people. Providing you leave politics to one-party rule, then you and your family can get on with your lives and perhaps even get rich. In many parts of the world – particularly those ruled by religious fundamentalists or mad warlords – this Chinese model might seem like a dream. “The tiger’s head of China’s growth faces the world, but the snake tails of problems closer to the ground are ever present,” Jonathan Fenby points out in his epic new book, Tiger Head Snake Tales. It’s a brilliant read that everybody interested in this fascinating part of the world should read – in order to both complicate and simplify the picture. b
Hong Kong-based Johan Nylander covers news about China for Sweden’s national news agency, TT, and other publications. He’s a former foreign correspondent at the business daily Dagens Industri. He can be reached at johan@swedishwire.com.
DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012 7
D e s i g n Sn i p p et s China’s third generation leads the way n China is on the verge of a design revolution, according to Lorraine Justice, former director of the School of Design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who today is dean of the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology in the US. “A ‘third generation’ that … came of age during China’s opening up period of the 1980s now strives for fame, fortune, and self expression. This generation, now in their 30s and 40s, has more freedom to create – and to consume – than their parents or grandparents,” Justice says in the book, China’s Design Revolution (The MIT Press), where she maps the evolution of Chinese design and innovation.
n The state-owned Shanghai Watch Company set up its original factory near the Bund in 1955 and produced over 120 million inexpensive, wind-up watches for the Chinese masses. The watches were the preferred choice of Chinese leaders, such as former Premier Zhou Enlai, who bought one Zhou Enlai of the company’s earliest watches and wore it every day until his death in 1976. But when China opened up and foreign watch brands were reintroduced in China, local watchmakers fell out of favour with the consumers. But a few years ago the brand was revived by a Shanghai-based creative firm together with the Chinese management, repositioning the brand at the luxury end of the market and bringing in a Swiss designer. Despite that, to this day, Shanghai Watch’s timepieces are made entirely in China.
QUOTE
Shanghai Watch bounces back
Justice explains that just as this “third generation” (post-Revolution, post–Cultural Revolution) reaches for self-expression, China’s government is making massive investments in design and innovation, supporting design and creative activities at both local and national levels. The goal is to stimulate economic growth – and to establish China as a global creative power. Justice describes and documents examples of Chinese design and innovation that range from ancient ceramics to communist propaganda posters. She then explores current award-winning projects in media, fashion, graphic, interior, and product design; and examines the lifestyle and purchasing trends of the “fourth generation,” now in their teens and 20s.
“China remains devoted to its intent of building a nation that is based on innovation with the aim of energetically supporting the transformation from ‘made in China’ to ‘created in China’.” Premier Wen Jiabao in a speech when meeting German chancellor Angela Merkel in Hanover in April, 2012.
Did you know …
Revival for Feiyue shoes
Design weeks in Beijing and Hong Kong
n Feiyue is a sneaker brand originally produced in Shanghai in the 1920s, and for decades it was the leading sports shoe for martial arts practitioners. After the opening-up of China, the sneaker was gradually forgotten until a group of French designers decided to revive the brand for Western consumers seven years ago. Unfortunately, the Chinese government regarded the French shoes as fakes and did not permit them to be sold in China. But the original Chinese shoe also saw a revival of fortunes. It is today used both as a general leisure, training and running shoe and for martial arts. Meanwhile, the French Feiyue shoe enjoys cult status abroad as a fashion item.
n For those interested in design trends in China. there are several big events to choose between. The Shanghai Design Week 2012 has just been held (11-14 September), but the Beijing Design Week 2012 is scheduled for 28 September to 6 October. Beijing Design Week is an annual event initiated by the government in collaboration with a Chinese design institute. In 2011, more than 130 exhibitions, events and activities were held around the city. Around 100 design landmarks in Beijing became design hubs during the event, which featured more than 60 famous brands and 800 visiting designers. Later in the year, from 3 December to 8 December, the Hong Kong Design Centre will host its 9th Business of Design Week (BODW), which is an inspiring ideas exchange platform for Asia’s most innovative thinkers and business leaders. BODW organises a blend of forums, seminars, exhibitions and outreach programmes for designers, business leaders, educators, small- and medium-sized enterprises and the public to exchange ideas and address a wide array of 21st century challenges. Each year, a partner country is invited and this year it is Denmark.
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n … that there are three types of patent protection in China? The Chinese Patent Law provides for invention patents, utility patens and design patents. Invention patents provide protection for a product or process. Utility model patents only protect products, not processes. Design patents protect the appearance of a product and can be maintained for up to 10 years from filing. Design patents protect the appearance only, not the way that the product operates or functions. A design is defined as the overall appearance of a product, for example any new design of the shape, pattern or colour of a product or the combination of these that creates an aesthetic feeling and that is suitable for industrial application.
Dan Lindwall General Manager Greater China and Branch Manager Hong Kong branch Dan Lindwall General Manager Greater China and Branch Manager Hong Kong branch
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the value chain China is moving towards being a creative and innovative economy, but there are many obstacles on the road ahead.
structure. The question is, for how long? For Huawei, which was founded in 1987 by Ren Zhengfei, a former People’s Liberation Army information technology researcher, it is a remarkable achievement, and the company could not have done it without being innovative and creating good industrial designs. For example, Huawei has developed the world’s first “100G” technology capable of delivering large amounts of data wirelessly over long distances.
But China has also had its innovation failures. For many years, China tried to develop an indigenous technological 3G standard for mobile telephony – TD-SCDMA – in an attempt to avoid dependence, and royalties, on Western technology. China invested billions to develop and commercialise this technology even when they knew that the rest of the world was leading with more advanced technologies. When the government finally issued 3G licenses in 2009, it forced the national cham-
Photo: iStockphoto
Racing up
I
n July this year, the Shenzhenbased telecommunications group, Huawei, overtook Sweden’s Ericsson as the world’s largest supplier of telecoms equipment. However, Huawei’s sales of mobile phones were also included in the revenues for the first half of 2012 – 103 billion yuan (US$16 billion) compared to Ericsson’s SEK106 billion (US$15.5 billion). In other words, Ericsson, founded in 1876, is still the biggest supplier of telecom network infra-
Text: Jan Hökerberg, Bamboo, jan.hokerberg@bambooinasia.com
10 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012 11
BioChromix, which participates in a Swedish innovation exhibition that has come to China, has developed a method for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
Entering the “Created in China” phase
pion China Mobile to use TD-SCDMA. But that same year China Unicom and China Telecom were allowed to start building their 3G networks, using the world’s two most common standards, which means that when China Mobile subscribers use their iPhones or Android smartphones the data transfer speed is slow. Nevertheless, in terms of patents, China definitely comes out on top. In 2010, China emerged as the top patent-filing nation worldwide, overtaking the United States and Japan. The number of patents filed in the Middle Kingdom is also expected to grow faster than anywhere else. China also publishes the second largest number of scientific papers in the world after the United States. “Things have changed so quickly. Before, it could take 24 months for an idea to get from Silicon Valley to China. Today, it takes only about 24 hours. Now, we have
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If the volume of patents in China increases by 30 per cent in one year, it doesn’t mean that China has become 30 per cent more innovative.” Tomas Larsson, Kairos Future to prepare ourselves to think about how long it takes for an idea to get from Beijing or Shanghai to Stockholm,” says Tomas Larsson, China research director at the Swedenbased research and consulting firm Kairos Future.
As a professor at Tongji University in Shanghai, the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Tsinghua University in Beijing and a lecturer at several other educational institutions in Greater China, Jan Staël von Holstein has become a pioneer in introducing branding to China. Over the years, he has led a large amount of seminars and workshops in China about branding and design and has been able to follow the knowledge level and innovative skills of Chinese students today. “Brand creation and brand development are new fields of design development in China and there are very few Chinese companies in which these activities have taken root. The activities and educational platforms did not really exist until I pioneered courses in brand strategies and design management in Shanghai and Beijing some six, seven years ago,” says Staël von Holstein. “Innovation, which is now part of the government’s agenda, is beginning to get moving and is being pushed hard in many scientific areas, such as medicine, genetic research and space technology for starters,” he says. “In architecture, urban planning and the building industry, with the addition of sustainability as an essential ingredient, there is now a lot of research and development taking place.” Staël von Holstein points out that Sweden has managed to play an important role here with its long established position and care for the environment, resulting in high-tech
engineering-driven products in areas such as water preservation, alternative energy sources and waste management. “In industrial design and other design disciplines, China isn’t yet fully developed. This is partly due to the traditional design education, with an important pure arts element in the foundation courses, and the position and role of the lecturers and teachers. They are not often challenged or questioned about their views and what they teach. Following the masters is a long ingrained tradition in China,” says Staël von Holstein. “In Europe, our teachers are challenged very early by students who want to have their own views and ideas known and debated,” he adds. “China is rapidly moving into the ’Created in China‘ phase after years of OEM and ’Made in China‘ manufacturing which also led to a long phase of copying Western design and little focus on real innovative design development. “A new generation of teachers and students is also rapidly adapting to new circumstances and challenges, with better market research and rapid prototyping techniques. “The missing link to make this move forward with impact is the slow changing environment of state-run enterprises that are lacking trained design managers and structures for innovation. This has resulted in poor market understanding, low investment commitment in design and design research and little courage taking
on young designers and using their ideas in the market place. “This is, however, also speeding up and I believe an important factor in all these areas is the gigantic strides and engagement across the border through social networks,” says Staël von Holstein. Recently, he has participated in the creation and naming of the new College of Design and Innovation (D&I) in Shanghai. This grew out of the art and design school under the umbrella of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning faculties of Tongji University. “It is a completely new foundation with an advanced curriculum that aims to produce four distinct professionals: industry leaders, teachers, creators and design managers. It is unprecedented anywhere in the world to create a completely new school and get it approved by the Ministry of Education within six months. It happened partly due to the fact that the group who constructed this consisted of deans from some of the leading design schools around the world,” says Staël von Holstein. The school is in full operation and will move into a new building at the beginning of November this year. D&I has rapidly become internationally recognised as one of the leading design schools in the world and has established double master degrees with polytechnic universities in Milan and Turin in Italy, Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photo: Gerhard Jörén
Photo: BioChromix/Si Press Images
China is rapidly moving into the “Created in China” phase after years of OEM and “Made in China” manufacturing that was essentially a long phase of copying Western design with little focus on real innovative design development, says Professor Jan Staël von Holstein.
“[Chinese teachers] are not often challenged or questioned about their views and what they teach.” Jan Staël von Holstein
Jan Staël von Holstein has led a large amount of branding and design seminars and workshops in China.
DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012 13
“However,” he adds, “if the volume of patents in China increases by 30 per cent in one year, it doesn’t mean that China has become 30 per cent more innovative.” Measured by the number of patenting companies, China, with its 1.3 billion citizens, ranked equally with Sweden – known as one of the most innovative countries in the world – in the late 1990s. Back then, around 1,000 companies were granted patents each year in both countries. Today, Sweden is outnumbered by a factor of 35. Kairos Future has published a quantitative study of China’s new innovation landscape called China’s Three Waves of Innovation. The report is based on an extensive analysis of a unique database that includes fundamental information on all 2 million-plus Chinese invention patents since the mid-80s supplemented with geographical data. Since 1986, when China’s patent law came into power, 2.1 million invention patent applications have been published by the China Patents and Trademark Office. More than half of them – 1.1 million applications – come from entities within China, a share that is steadily rising, according to the study. Although patent applications do not equal innovation, they do provide insights into the research and development activities of hundreds of thousands of entities across China. Larsson explains the three waves of innovation: “The first wave came from the stateowned companies’ research institutes that dominated patent applications in the 1990s. Then, in the first decade of 2000, more private companies and universities started to apply for patents. Now, we can see that medium-sized or smaller enterprises are taking a bigger share of the patent applications,” he says. The kinds of Chinese patent applications have also changed. Some 10 years
neglected,” says Martin Stenberg, a former journalist who came to China for the first time in 2004 to study Chinese and also worked with developing the concept for the exhibition in the Swedish pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. Since 2011, he has been country manager at the strategic branding agency Rewir in Shanghai. Stenberg says that there is a great need of branding in China today, since in this competitive climate you have to be unique to succeed. “Unfortunately, many decision-makers are still middle managers who believe that their prime duty is to cut costs since it is a way in which they can be measured internally,” he says. The majority of Rewir’s clients are Scandinavian, but they are also working with several Chinese China’s current five-year companies that want to plan calls for “indigenous strengthen their brands. innovation”, which the “There is a new generagovernment thinks it can tion of Chinese companies foster by subsidising stracoming up that are innovategic industries and having The number of invention tive and do good design,” foreign companies transfer patent applications that says Stenberg. intellectual property to have been published in However, many Chinese companies that will become China since 1986. companies still have a long national champions. way to go. Traditionally, “That system of state Chinese companies have chosen the opcapitalism worked when the aim was to portunistic path of learning how to adjust copy and adapt other people’s ideas in the their products to the customers’ demands. cheapest way possible. But can new ideas “But many companies lack competence truly be created by fiat?” asks the business in branding and the top boss, who mostly magazine The Economist in a leader. is the ultimate decision-maker, is always Whether by decree or not, it is a fact ‘king’ even if he has little knowledge about that China is racing up the value chain, branding,” says Stenberg. transforming itself from the factory of the In Europe, most companies understand world to developing its own global brands that a brand is an important investment and now becoming a international research that has to be supported long-term and and development centre. with consistency. “It is good timing to establish a brand“In Europe, companies regard their ing agency in China today. Many foreignsuppliers as partners while in China, many owned companies have been here a decade companies show little respect for their supor more and have focused mainly on sales pliers and are mainly interested in cutting and production. Areas such as branding their prices,” he says. and communications have often been ago, biotechnology and organic chemistry dominated, while today patent applications tend to be related to information and communications technology (ICT), electronics, mechanical engineering, nanotechnology and environmental protection. “The Americans and the Europeans are looking at China for the next Apple or Google,” says Larsson. “There is definitely a lot of innovation going on in China, but most of these projects are not necessarily as cool as that. The patents are more likely to be related to asphalt pavers and road graders. For example, China produces today the world’s strongest concrete pumps to support the construction of high-rise buildings,” says Larsson.
There is a new generation of Chinese companies coming up that are innovative and make good design.” Martin Stenberg, Rewir
14 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
2.1 million
One question is whether creative design and innovation is held back in China by the lack of freedom of expression. Larsson of Kairos Future says, no. “I don’t think it matters so much. I’ve worked at laboratories with Chinese colleagues and they are extremely talented and thinking freely,” he says. “However, the institutions suffer because China is an authoritarian, topdown society in which the state controls many sectors of the economy. That makes it difficult for entrepreneurs to get loans and to recruit talents who often prefer to join state-owned companies where they have better career chances,” he adds. Chinese schools still focus very much on rote learning, so another question is where Chinese find their creative inspiration. “Hong Kong was an early portal for the mainland in terms of design and innovation,” says Jan Staël von Holstein, a professor and lecturer at several Chinese universities and institutions (see separate article). “One shouldn’t, however, forget China’s long history and exquisite craftsmanship in making textiles, furniture and porcelain, much of which was copied in the Western world in the 16th to 18th centuries,” he adds. Stenberg believes that Chinese design is more influenced by other Asian markets than by the West: “China is inspired by trends in South Korea and Hong Kong, and to some extent also Japan and Singapore. But China also likes to do things in its own way. Look at Chinese websites, for example; they don’t look like websites in other countries. They include so many bits and pieces and colours are mixed in a different way.” Larsson points out that “there are also more and more returnees who are bringing inspiration from other countries, such as the US, Japan and Europe.” Despite great efforts, no Chinese indigenous design or inventions have become commercial successes abroad. China has not yet created any true global brands; neither has China exported any bestselling consumer products. But there are signs that this is changing. “Companies such as Lenovo, Haier and Huawei are well under way on a number of fronts. We should probably be able to add a few car brands that could succeed in the not too distant future. I also think that a couple of world
16 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
The secret of success
Small nation with great ideas A Swedish exhibition that presents some 20 cutting-edge inventions is touring the world and has now come to China. Sweden’s innovative skills are currently on display in China. An international exhibition, called Innovative Sweden, opened its doors at Tsinghua University on 12 September, and it will stay there until 26 September, before moving on to Tongji University in Shanghai, which hosts the exhibition 2 November to 28 November. “Sweden is one of the most innovative countries in the world according to international indexes and reports. However, this is not so well known among the general public outside Sweden,” says Oscar Edström, commercial officer at the Embassy of Sweden in Beijing. Twenty young Swedish start-up companies have been chosen to take part in the exhibition, which is developed by the Swedish Institute to strengthen the innovative image of Sweden. For every city that has hosted the exhibition the Swedish Institute has worked closely together with Swedish foreign missions and partners to create an extensive programme of presentations and seminars tailored to each city and country. The exhibition will give visitors a glimpse of the latest innovation concepts within the fields of information and communication technology (ICT), life science, clean technology and gaming. The exhibition had its first show at Stanford, California, in November 2011, and
will be on tour until 2013. In Beijing, a number of seminars were organised by the embassy in conjunction with the exhibition. In Shanghai, the programme and exhibition have been extended by inviting sponsors such as SCA, IKEA and AB Volvo to showcase their own innovations and to arrange their own company days. “With the exhibition, we hope to reach students, entrepreneurs, inventors, Chinese media, researchers, government and officials. We will organise a social media campaign together with a Chinese partner and we have also launched a photo competition on Sweden’s official homepage in China, www.sweden.cn, where participants can contribute with pictures of how they interpret Swedish innovations,” says JenniAnn Eriksson, project leader at the Consulate General of Sweden in Shanghai. A century ago, Sweden was one of the poorest countries in Europe. Today, it is a world leader in many areas, despite being a country of just 9 million. Swedish inventions, such as the three-point seatbelt, the pacemaker and mobile telephony have conquered the world, creating jobs and welfare. Many of Sweden’s leading corporations, such as ABB, AGA, Alfa Laval, Atlas Copco, Ericsson, Sandvik, SKF and Tetra Pak, were built upon inventions from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Are you considering expanding or starting up your business in Sweden or China? Let Vinge assist you by downloading our apps free of charge. Take advantage of our expertise and many years´ experience. “Business in Sweden” is designed to help you when you are about to start your business in Sweden. Available on Android market in English and Chinese. “Vinge China” is designed to help you when you are about to start your business in China. Available on Appstore in English. Vinge has Swedish lawyers and Chinese legal consultants based in Shanghai, Hong Kong and in Vinge’s offices in Sweden. For more than 20 years Vinge has assisted clients in their business activities in China and has advised foreign clients in all matters regarding trade and investments between Sweden and China.
Innovative Sweden is an exhibition that is touring around the world. It will be in Shanghai in November.
STOCKHOLM
GOTHENBURG
MALMO
HELSINGBORG
BRUSSELS
HONG KONG
SHANGHAI
Researchers such as Yi Rao and Shi Yigong … are regarded as world leaders in their fields.” Gordon Orr, McKinsey & Co Asia
stars could emerge in the competitive luxury and fashion business world,” says Staël von Holstein. Stenberg of Rewir believes that in five to 10 years, there will be quite a number of Chinese consumer products on the shelves in European stores. “Many Chinese products and brands have a good chance to be successful, especially if they have a strong ‘personality’ and a history behind the product,” he says and mentions brands such as the sports and martial arts shoe Feiyue and The Shanghai Watch Company, both with a history from the Mao Zedong era (see also page 8). Much innovation in China today is built around developing creative business models in addition to, or instead of, new physical products. Broad Air Conditioning developed a way to commercialise gas-powered air conditioning systems for large buildings. China’s internet companies, such as Baidu (a search engine), Tencent (a social networking service) and Alibaba (an ecommerce company), have been successful at copying Western business models and adapting them to the Chinese market. Private companies such as Mindray – which makes medical devices – and Huawei have been able to come up with technologies that are cheaper and sometimes even better than their rich-world equivalents. “In some areas, such as telecommunications and pharmaceuticals, innovation shows through in the market. Local companies and universities have discovered multiple chemical compounds in China. Researchers such as Yi Rao and Shi Yigong, experts in genetics and structural biology respectively, are regarded as world leaders in their fields. Huawei’s and ZTE’s global gains in market share have shifted from being solely on the basis of cost to a combination of cost and innovation,” says Gordon Orr, chairman of McKinsey & Co Asia, in an article in the Wall Street Journal’s Asia edition.
18 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
There is, however, a long way to go before China can be called a truly innovative and creative economy. There are still many obstacles on the road ahead, especially for smaller private companies with great ideas. One of them is piracy. Even if China has improved its intellectual property law, there is still a lot more to be done when it comes to enforcement. Another problem is the government’s policy of creating national champions in different industries, which has led to favouritism and consolidation of industries, which can knock out innovative but not so well-connected firms. Financing is also a big problem. According to a report from the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, more than 90 per cent of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) surveyed couldn’t get loans from banks over the past three years. More than 60 per cent of their financing came from private lenders. The huge demand has led to widespread illegal banking activities, and left small companies more vulnerable to loan sharks
and ill-regulated underground banks amid tight monetary conditions. “The unitary financial system is the key factor causing financing problems for SMEs,” Nan Cunhui, chairman of Chint Group Corporation, the country’s biggest maker of low-voltage electrical apparatus, recently told the China Daily. Another challenge is to find venture capitalists with a global outlook. At present, if you are an entrepreneur based in China and you want to serve a global market, securing funding might be a challenge. “When I talk to Chinese venture capitalists, they want to focus on the Chinese market. That’s the only market they know,” he says. Xu Xiaoping, one of China’s most prominent investors, “doesn’t think China will be able to produce its own equivalent of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates in this generation,” according to a recent article in The Washington Post. He expects that it will take “at least 20 years” before China’s economy becomes truly innovative and creative. Xu believes that the traditional Chinese mindset of fighting to be accepted, rather than encouraging people’s natural curiosity and passions, deters China from reaching its true potential. However, since it took China only 30 years to go from sheer poverty to becoming the world’s second largest economy, it might very well happen that China transforms itself into an innovative and creative economy in the next one or two decades. b
Sino-Swedish action plan for innovation China and Sweden have signed a joint action plan for small- and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) that focus on innovation. Sweden possesses a large number of innovative SMEs in industries such as information and communication technology, life sciences, automotive, clean energy and environmental protection. SMEs in China have also become the mainstays of technological innovation, dominating more than 70 per cent of the national science and technology parks and high-tech parks. Miao Wei, China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology, and Annie
Lööf, Sweden’s minister for Enterprise and Regional Affairs, signed the agreement in conjunction with a Sino-Swedish seminar on SME innovation in Beijing in May this year. Under the plan, both sides will build the Sino-Swedish SME Dialogue Forum in the next five years. This will be a platform for strengthening bilateral exchanges in international market information, carrying out project matchmaking, stimulating innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, developing cooperation in new materials and creating SME industrial clusters, among other opportunities.
Personal We offer personal logistics; simplicity, precision and reliability for our customers, and that means personal attention and service, because business relationships are about people.
www.apclogistics.com
After 25 years with Siemens, 51-year old ZZ Zhang needed a new challenge, and he has now joined Sandvik Greater China, where he has become the company’s first mainland-Chinese president.
headquarters, who wanted local managers in both of the emerging markets of China and India. Zhang’s predecessors, Svante Lindholm and Anders Hägglund, were both Swedes and built Sandvik’s strong presence in China. “Actually, this is the third time that I have taken over from an expatriate,” he says. “In 1999, I succeeded an American at Siemens Automotive, and then in 2005 I succeeded a German in Siemens Telecom. “As a Chinese leader, I think I can understand the customers better. I have good judgement when it comes to the opportunities and the risks in China, and it is also easier for me to deal with the government than it was for my predecessors,” Zhang says. On a less positive note, he admits that it will take some time for him to achieve a close relationship with the Swedish headquarters. But as part of the executive management team of the Sandvik Group, he is in a good position to make progress.
Time for Text: Jan Hökerberg, Bamboo, jan.hokerberg@bambooinasia.com
a new challenge
Zhang does not believe that the Chinese method of making relationships through guanxi is the only way to move forward: “Every business in any country is based on relationships. But at the end of the day we all do business with the people – and the products behind them – that we trust. China has come a long way from that old way of doing business,” he says. There can be many cultural clashes between Chinese and Western companies, but Zhang also saw big cultural differences when he was part of the all-European merger at Nokia Siemens Networks. “The Germans were running it like a big ship. Everyone knew their function and the whole ship leaned on this. The Finnish, on the other hand, were more flexible and had dynamic people that kept the company ticking.” Zhang’s view of Chinese management is that the top leader is always very important, which has a historical basis, in which the emperor, or Chairman Mao, ruled. In the Western world, companies act more like a team: “Multinational companies are like an aircraft carrier, with many people who have to work together. Chinese companies are more like battleships with a captain who make all the major decisions.”
H
e was one of the first Chinese returnees in the At Siemens, he completed all the steps of a professional late 1980s, and now Zhang Zhiqiang, or ZZ manager. He joined the company’s office administration Zhang, as he prefers to call himself, is the first as a commercial manager, helping to set up joint ventures, mainland-Chinese president of the multinaand taking part in accounting and legal support. In order to tional engineering company, Sandvik, in Greater China. get closer to the business, Zhang applied to be transferred Zhang was born in 1961 in Beijing, where he grew up to the medical group of Siemens in Beijing as commerand undertook a Bachelor’s degree from Beijing Jiaotong cial manager. Two years later, as part of the company’s inUniversity. In 1985, he received a scholarship from the house training, he went to the German town of Prien am Chinese government and two years later he graduated with Chiemsee, close to Munich, to learn German and Siemens’ an MBA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. financial system, followed after by a year in Duisburg. “At that time, we experienced the first wave of China’s In 1994, when Zhang realised that he had met his career opening-up policy, and I really felt that I wanted to go ceiling as a financial manager in Siemens, he moved on to back home and get into business in China, which later on the sales frontline and joined Siemens’ automotive group in turned out to be one of my best decisions China. There he would stay for 10 years – in life,” says Zhang. the first five years as head of sales and the He was among the first returnees next five years as president, heading the since the reform had started in 1978. entire group. “It felt good to be closer to The Ministry of Education was surprised the customers,” he says. The number of employees that when Zhang returned and didn’t know After a decade and two jobs with Sandvik has in the Greater how to handle the case, since very few automobiles Zhang wanted to move on, China region. people chose to return at that time. and he joined Siemens’ telecommunica“I have always been willing to try new tions group in 2005. A year later Siemens things, like going abroad when there were only a few people would merge its telecom group with Nokia Networks to doing it and coming back when most people liked to stay become Nokia Siemens Networks. Zhang was appointed abroad,” he says. China president of that operation from April 2007. After his return, Zhang realised that there were not many career options for him. “The Ministry said that ‘either In 2012, after 25 years with Siemens, he was headyou have to find a job or we will give you a job as a teacher’. hunted to become the president of Sandvik Greater China. But I didn’t want to be a teacher, even though my mother “Life is a journey; sometimes you have to make the and my sister both were teachers.” changes to get the right motivation to perform better. When the opportunity came with Sandvik, I felt I had to do it even though I didn’t know the company at that time. Being a talented Chinese with an MBA exam from a Western university was of course hard currency at that time The company’s technology, culture, leadership and willingfor multinational corporations, and Zhang handed out his ness to win in China impressed me a lot,” says Zhang. resume to various companies’ subsidiaries in China, before At Sandvik, he is the first mainland Chinese to take finally picking the German multinational enterprise Siemens. the top spot. This was a strategic decision taken by Sandvik
4,000
20 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
ZZ Zhang likes to work with people, build a team and make sure everyone contributes.
Life is a journey; sometimes you have to make the changes to get the right motivation to perform better.”
Zhang will now focus on to understand how Sandvik can grow and how China will develop. “I will focus on a China strategy and build a high-performing team. I will also spend a lot of time developing more young local talent,” says Zhang, before adding, “I also want the company to grow more than the market itself.” He describes himself as a leader who “likes to work with people, build a team and make sure everyone contributes. Of course, we have to pick the right team members and make sure that the team goes in the right direction.” b Sandvik in China Sandvik is one of the leading Swedish companies in China with almost 4,000 employees in around 100 cities in Greater China. The company has 65 sales offices, 10 wholly owned factories and two joint ventures. The company’s turnover was almost RMB7 billion in 2011, which represents 7.3 per cent of the group’s total turnover.
DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012 21
Wilhelm Nordenfeldt started Tastybag.com to provide households in Hong Kong with a more convenient way of grocery shopping. Text: Katrin Vervoort Hansson, akikokatrin@gmail.com
Their business is in the bag W
ilhelm Nordenfelt had been in Hong Kong as an accompanying spouse for less than a month before his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for new ideas took over. Together with business partner Jonas Blanck, he decided to set up Tastybag.com to provide households in Hong Kong with a more convenient way of grocery shopping, trying new recipes and cooking homemade meals at home. The concept of grocery bags filled with just enough groceries for a few meals is already well known in Sweden,
Mercuri International THE SALES EXPERTS! Mercuri International has for more than 20 years supported clients to achieve outstanding sales results in Asia and assisted Asian companies accomplishing their sales targets in Europe and other parts of the world. Mercuri International’s strong presence in China and Asia has created local expertise and familiarity with local business environment to provide proven sales concepts, practical sales tools, impactful sales trainings and sustainable implementation measures.
Wilhelm Nordenfeldt (right) started Tastybag.com together with Jonas Blanck.
22 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
Mercuri International is the world’s largest sales performance consultancy. Founded in Sweden in 1958 we have more than 50 years’ experience in helping companies implement strategies and achieve powerful sales results. For further information, please visit our website www.mercuri.net or www.mercuri.com.cn or contact our offices in Shanghai (+86 21 6415 6691) or Hong Kong (+852 2865 5878)
Australia – Austria – Belarus – Belgium – Brazil – Bulgaria – Canada – China – Croatia – Czech Republic – Denmark – Estonia – Finland – France – Germany – Greece – Hong Kong – Hungary – India – Indonesia – Italy – Japan – Korea – Latvia – Lithuania – Malaysia – Marocco – Netherlands – New Zealand – Norway – Philippines – Poland – Romania – Russia – Singapore – Slovakia – Slovenia – South Africa – Sweden – Switzerland – Thailand – Ukraine – United Arab Emirates – United States – United Kingdom – Vietnam
2x3
Steak with chili garlic butter and tomato salad Ingredients 2 sirloin steaks 2 tomatoes, sliced half red onion, finely sliced 150g butter, softened (at room temperature) 2-3 cm chili, finely chopped 1-2 cloves garlic, minced (H) Parsley, chopped Olive oil (H) Balsamic vinegar (H)
Being online helps us keep our costs low.” Prawn and spinach pa
sta
TastyBag - easy cooking
Marketing is like
Week of 20-26 August 2012
at home!
planting bamboo
.com
Dear TastyBag customer! This week you have three nice and healthy recipes, our low carb steak, the chicken with almonds and greens, and the little more heavy prawn and spinach pasta. We suggest you start to cook the steak or the chicken. If you get leftovers have it the day after or you can put parts in the freezer.
The Tastybag team
Keep on cooking!
Chicken with greens
and almonds
Ingredients Things to have at home (H) 300g spaghetti Directions Salt, pepper, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, white wine. Kitchenware; Frying Ingr 200g prawns edients pan, one large and one medium sauce pan. 1-2 clove 400g chicken fillets garlic, minced (H) 1. Take out the meat from the fridge so that it is at room temperature when it’sstime 2-3 cm chili finely chop 100g asparagus, ends to fry it. ped Ingredients this week cut off half lemon, the zest 2. 75g snow peas, ends Mix the butter with chili, garlic and a third of the parsley. Season with salt and trimmed Sirloin steak, red onion, tomatoes, salted butter, parsley, red chilli, spaghetti, 50g baby spinach pepper. Chill in the fridge while you prepare the rest. 75g haricots verts, ends prawns, cream, lemon, spinach, chicken breast, asparagus, snow peas, haricots, trimmed 3. 1/3olive Arrange the tomatoes and the onion on a serving plate, drizzle with cupoil 2 shall whit ots, e wine (H) finel and y chopped almonds, shallots. balsamic vinegar, and garnish with the remaining parsley. 100 ml cream 2 tbsp Olive oil + more for frying (H) 4. Heat a pan on medium to high heat, drizzle the steaks with olive oil a bunc 2 tsp Balsamic vinegar h parsley, chopped and season Chefs’ cooking tricks (H) with salt and pepper. Fry in the hot pan, depending on how you like Olive oil (H) for it cooked To see if your steak is done, touch it! A firm steak is well done, a springy steak is½ cup almonds, chopped about 1-4 minutes on each side. Let the meat rest covered in tin foil Salt and pepper (H) medium, and a soft steak is rare. The more often you cook a steak, the more before you serve
where brands such as Middagsfrid and Linas Matkasse compete in a market segment that has grown to SEK1.5 billion from nowhere since 2008. In Sweden, target consumers tend to be families with young children who have slightly more money than time. They find these grocery bag deliveries, complete with 5. recipe suggestions, to be not only a huge time saver, but also a way to enrich and broaden the kinds of meals enjoyed at home. “I have a background in businesses associated with grocery and household goods, so I was using my knowledge and experience, not starting from scratch,” he says.
for about 5 minutes. Serve the steak with the tomato salad and the butter.
Directions
Given the differences between Sweden and Hong Kong – along with the widespread role of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong households – Tastybag.com decided to focus on both couples and on families with children, with two product solutions – a couple’s bag for two and a family bag for four. Both are subscriptioning around in Sheung based, with Monday deliveries of recipes and Wan and finds inspiration in both ordinary the essential ingredients for three homemade people and in Hong Kong entrepreneurs. He meals. The recipes are created by a professional is also active in a sport which is close to his chef based on in-season ingredients, providing heart – ice hockey. a variety of tastes and cuisines. Door-to-door The Hong Kong Ice Hockey League deliveries are handled via the company’s distrigathers at the Kowloon Bay bution partner, Dairy Farm. Megabox rink on ThursSo far, feedback shows days. Interested spectators that the Tastybag.com conand potential new team cept – and its execution – is members can find out working, making advertismore at www.megaice. ing unnecessary: customer com.hk/index.php/ interest spreads mostly via adult-league. word-of-mouth, though other When asked what customer acquisition methods Nordenfeldt doesn’t and general improvements The market value in Sweden like about Hong Kong, continued to be evaluated and for ready-made grocery the response is immediate: tried out. bags for households. “Pollution … After making Tastybag. “I also sometimes find com a success in Hong Kong, myself not liking the time difference between Nordenfeldt is now looking at the region. friends and family in Sweden, although I The company relies on some key business know that I should be able to plan around fundamentals, such as low costs and consistthat,” he says. ently high quality to ensure the brand is seen The things he loves about Hong Kong are as fresh and strong. most likely things readers will recognise from “Being online helps us keep our costs other Young Professionals profiles – “For sure, low,” he says. the city’s contrasts, as well as the high-energy level, and the ease and speed of execution when Aside from working long hours with you are setting up your own business.” b Tastybag.com, Nordenfeldt enjoys stroll-
SEK
1.5 billion
24 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
Take your social responsibility with us!
Your TastyBag is made of a thick non-woven material, designed for re-use! Put your latest bag outside your door with the next
Directions Cook the pasta acco delivery and we will reuse it. For every reused bag we make a rding to the instructio ns on the package. donation to WWF Hong Kong. In a large pan, heat som e oil on medium to high 1. Make the vinaigrette garlic and chili and fry heat and add prawns, by putting olive oil, for abo ut 2-3 minutes, season with balsamic vinegar and 3. a jar, and shaking it. Add the white wine salt and pepper. shallots in If you don’t have an and let simmer for abo empty jar, place vine 4. ut 1 shal minute. Turn down the heat lots in a bowl and then gar and to med slowly pour the oil in ium Website and Contact us by email add spinach, lemon Contact us by phone the whil Let oil simm e is stirr inco zest er ing, rpor for and cream. until all about 3-4 +852 ated. www.tastybag.com info@tastybag.com minutes 5414 ,1099 and season again. 2. 5. Bring water to a boil. Drain the pasta and add toHong 20/F, One IFC, 1 theKong View Street, Central, sauce, add parsley and 3. 6.Tasty Bag Ltd, Fry the chicken in som Serve immHarbour toss. ediately. e olive oil on medium heat, on both sides unti cooked through, shou l ld take a couple of min 4. utes on each side. When the chicken is Steak wit h chi cooked through, put li and lic butter the vegetables in the water gar tom cook for aboutand ato sal boil ing ad 3 minutes, then drai n. Return the vegetabl the pot, add the vina es to igrette and toss well 5. . Serve the chicken with Ingre the dient vege s es and the chop tabl ped almonds. 2 sirloin steaks 1. 2.
Marketing is necessary if you want your business to grow. But marketing is like planting bamboo. In the first six years, the seedlings only grow about 12 inches high. Then suddenly in the seventh year the bamboo sprouts to six feet tall.
obvious this will be.
2 tomatoes, sliced half red onion, finely sliced 150g butter, softened (at room temperature) 2-3 cm chili, finely chop ped 1-2 cloves garlic, minced (H) Parsley, chopped Olive oil (H) Balsamic vinegar (H)
In marketing, it also takes time for results to appear. Prospects need to see your name many 2x3 Wee k of 20-2 times before they remember you and recognise 6 August 2012 * your value.
Tasty Bag - easy cooking at home! Our company,
.com
Bamboo, can help you with that. It Dear TastyBag customer! is our business is to help our clients build longThis week you have three nice and healthy recipes, term relationships our low carb steak, the with their customers, staff and with almonds and green chicken s, and the little more heavy prawn and spinach pasta suggest you start to cook . We the steak or the chicken. If you get leftovers have day after or you can put other stakeholders. it the parts in the freezer. Keep on cooking!
Directions 1. 2. 3. 4.
5.
Take out the meat from the fridge so that it is at room temperature when to fry it. it’s time Mix the butter with chili, garlic and a third of the parsley. Season with salt pepper. Chill in the fridge and while you prepare the rest. Arrange the tomatoes and the onion on a serving plate, drizzle with olive balsamic vinegar, and garni oil and sh with the remaining parsle Heat a pan on medium y. to high heat, drizzle the steaks with olive oil and with salt and pepper. Fry season in the hot pan, depending on how you like it cooke about 1-4 minutes on each d for side. Let the meat rest cover before you serve for abou ed in tin foil t 5 minutes. Serve the steak with the tomato salad and the butte r.
The Tastybag team * The similarity between marketing and planting bamboo was originally conceptualised by George Torok, a marketing expert and Things to have at hom e (H) Salt, pepper, garlic, olive co-author of the book Secrets of Power Marketing. oil, balsamic vinegar,
pan, one large and one
medium sauce pan.
white wine. Kitchenware;
Frying
Ingredients this week
Sirloin steak, red onion , tomatoes, salted butte r, parsley, red chilli, spagh prawns, cream, lemon, etti, spinach, chicken breast, asparagus, snow peas, almonds, shallots. haricots,
Chefs’ cooking tricks
To see if your steak is done , touch it! A firm steak is well done, a springy steak medium, and a soft steak is is rare. The more often you cook a steak, the more obvious this will be.
Take your social responsi
bility
with us! Your TastyBag is made of a thick non-woven mate rial, designed for re-use! Put your latest bag outside your door with the next delivery and we will reuse it. For every reused bag we make a donation to WWF Hong Kong. Website
www.tastybag.com
Contact us by email
info@tastybag.com
Tasty Bag Ltd, 20/F, One IFC,
Contact us by phone
+852 5414 1099
1 Harbour View Street, Central,
Hong Kong
Wilhelm Nordenfeldt in brief Name: Wilhelm Nordenfeldt Age: 30 Work: Director and co-founder of Tastybag.com Lives in: Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Favourite restaurant in Hong Kong: Any Vietnamese restaurant, for example Nah Thrang Favourite day trip: Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung
Bamboo Business Communications Ltd (Hong Kong) +852 2838 4553 Bamboo Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co, Ltd +86 21 6472 9173 Jan Hökerberg managing director jan.hokerberg@bambooinasia.com Johan Olausson sales and marketing manager johan.olausson@bambooinasia.com www.bambooinasia.com
successful magical event for the swedish and finnish community
Over 180 guests where gathered at an amazing outdoor venue in the outskirts of Shanghai when Mannheimer Swartling on May 4 in collaboration with the Swedish Club and the Shanghai Finns, hosted a magical evening ”outside the box”. The weather was welcoming and it became an unforgettable event with interesting presentations by experienced international speakers on how to cope with the challenges we all face when living and striving abroad, high class cocktail and tapas from El Willy and an unforgettable dancing party throughout the night to music performed by the famous Shanghai cover band Studio 188.
Nordic touch with a Chinese edge awards
mannheimer swartling selected as leading law firm in sweden for seventh time
Mannheimer Swartling was named “Sweden Law Firm of the Year 2012” by Who’s Who Legal in its annual awards. This is the seventh consecutive occasion that Mannheimer Swartling has been recognised by Who’s Who Legal as the leading firm in Sweden. Lawyers from Mannheimer Swartling were listed more times than those from any other firm in Sweden as Partners from the firm received sufficient nominations from their clients and peers to be listed 37 times across 17 practice areas in the publication. Editor in chief Callum Campbell said, “The strong performance of so many lawyers from Mannheimer Swartling underlines the depth of expertise the firm can offer across a range of areas, and we are delighted to recognise the firm once again as the leader in Sweden.” mannheimer swartling win at the europe women in business law awards
Mannheimer Swartling received awards in a number of categories at the Euromoney Legal Media Group Europe Women in Business Law Awards held on 20 June in London.
On the national level, Mannheimer Swartling was the country award winner for Sweden and on a pan-European basis, the firm received the “Best gender diversity initiative by national firm” award for its ”Women’s network and professional development programme” and Helena Rempler won the individual award for “Best in insurance & reinsurance”.
what’s up
mannheimer swartling advise getinge group in acquisition
Getinge Group has acquired Acare Medical Science Ltd, a China-based company primarily focused on the middlemarket segment for hospital beds, for SEK 180 million. The Getinge Group is a leading global provider of equipment, systems and solutions within the healthcare and the life sciences industry with production in ten countries and approximately 13,000 employees in 37 countries around the world. The company’s share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. The Getinge Group was advised by Mannheimer Swartling in the transaction. The firm’s team was led from China/Hong Kong by partner Ulf Ohrling mainly assisted by Åsa Jansson, Lu Shan, Catherine Wang and Echo Cao and partner Claes Albinsson in Sweden.
We are grateful for all the positive response we have received on this event with statements as ”the event of the year”, ”very professional and generous”, and ” for once lawyers who can think beyond intellectual property and due diligence request lists”. Thank you all who participated and made this event a great success!
raving reviews from participants of cultural awareness and training programme
Since the launch of the cultural awareness and business training programme, developed for the firm’s clients entitled “The art of doing business in China: From understanding the culture to navigating the business and legal environment”, several companies has now commissioned a programme specifically for their expatriates working on M&A in China. We are very proud about the response we have received since the launch. Here are a few:
“A late thank you for an excellent seminar… All [participants] made connections to situations that they had experienced but not yet managed to interpret. Now they got explanations and have a better understanding of and ability to communicate internally when things are not running smoothly.” (Head of M&A Asia) “Especially it gave an insight in how relatively complicated it is to try to acquire noted companies. The actual information around today’s political situation and eventual consequences of this was also very interesting…a very well organized workshop that I highly recommend and wish that more people with connection to China had the opportunity to participate in.” (Head of Global M&A)
outbound investment seminar in wuhan
“I am reading your book ’Quotations from a China practice’ with high interest. There are so many insights in the book which I as a Chinese never thought about but when I think about them they are very much correct. Thank you very much for an insightful and fruitful workshop in M&A in China, held recently in Beijing. Feedback from the participants has been very good.” (Head of Strategy and Business Development, China.)
is investment treaty arbitration a viable option for chinese companies?
mannheimer swartling hong kong office 33 / f, jardine house 1 connaught place central, hong kong, china
Mannheimer Swartling was invited to address Chinese stateowned enterprises and private companies at a seminar on “Chinese Outbound Investments” organized by the Wuhan Bureau of Commerce. Ulf Ohrling and Nils Eliasson, assisted by Liu Shan, delivered the firm’s presentations entitled “Outbound Chinese M&A” and “How to control risks and avoid disputes in cross-border contracts”. The seminar was attended by around 50 participants.
Investment treaty arbitration has proven to be an effective way to obtain compensation for investors whose investments have been expropriated or suffered other forms of undue government interference. So far, however, few Chinese companies have availed themselves of this possibility. This might change. At a seminars in Beijing organized by the Stateowned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of People’s Government of Beijing (Beijing SASAC) and the China Group Companies Association, Mannheimer Swartling was invited to address the question whether investment treaty arbitration is a viable option for Chinese Companies. Nils Eliasson, assisted by Liu Shan, delivered the firm’s presentation. The seminar was attended by around 80 general counsel and legal managers.
telephone: +852 2526 4868
mannheimer swartling shanghai office
25/ f, platinum no. 233 taicang road, luwan district, shanghai 200020, china telephone: +86 21 6141 0980
www.mannheimerswartling.com
The diplomat
A hands-on diplomat
in Hong Kong
Despite his young age, Jörgen Halldin could well be considered an “old China hand” since he started studying Chinese more than 20 years ago and worked in Beijing in the 1990s. Today, he is the consul-general of Sweden in Hong Kong and describes himself as “very much hands-on”. Text: Jan Hökerberg, Bamboo, jan.hokerberg@bambooinasia.com
I
t has been a turbulent year for Hong Kong with several top politicians and some of the wealthiest tycoons facing allegations of having illegal structures at their houses, carrying out illegal cross-leasing of apartments, and indulging in cronyism, corruption and bribery. “Even though the new chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, has also had his share of accusations, it seems he has a different agenda than his predecessor, and is not so closely tied to the business elites. He presents himself as someone who listens to the man on the street,” says Jörgen Halldin, Swedish consulgeneral to Hong Kong and Macau, and who took office almost a year ago. Halldin also thinks, and hopes, that Leung has a clearer vision when it comes to environmental issues, for example, which is an area of concern for many Hong Kong residents. “Hong Kong is a free market and a society with good resources, but there are also areas that could be improved. Environmental policy, sustainability issues and green business are some of them and here Sweden can play an important role by showing our solutions,” he says. Halldin was born in 1968 in Danderyd, a suburb north of Stockholm. After finishing upper secondary school, he was not sure what he wanted to do with his life. Music had always interested him, and he had played electric guitar in a band. He managed to get a job at Warner Music, where he worked for a year selling records to stores. He likes rock and pop, and thinks that
most good music was produced between 1968-1972 and 1977-1982. “When you say that, you suddenly realise how old you are,” Halldin says with a smile. In 1989, it was time for military service, and he joined the F 16 wing in Uppsala. But he felt he didn’t fit in with the top-down military culture, so he applied for non-combatant service at a community youth centre instead. He also worked at a hotel in Stockholm where many American tourists stayed. “They were very generous with tips so I could save most of my salary and go to Australia for four months,” Halldin says. In 1990, Halldin started to study international economy at the Lund University. He had always been interested in languages, and the university programme allowed him to study both French and Chinese. His interest in China came from his grandmother, who was a specialist in silk, and had been invited to China’s national silk museum in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. She and Halldin’s grandfather also hosted several Chinese students in their home. Halldin joined a group of seven students of Chinese who went to Hangzhou for a summer course, which stimulated Halldin’s China interest even further. Among the students was Pernilla Axelsson, who would become his wife. Halldin graduated in 1996 with a Master of Science degree in economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese and political science. He wrote his thesis about how the financial system in China affected Swedish enterprises there.
Jörgen Halldin (in the middle) and his wife Pernilla (right) at an environment technology event together with Carrie Lam (left), at that time Secretary for Development and now Chief Secretary in the Hong Kong government, and Mats Denninger (left of Halldin), High Representative for the Sino-Swedish Environmental Technology Cooperation.
Hong Kong is a free market and a society with good resources but there are also areas that could be improved.” 28 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
Recently, I got a question from a person [in Sweden] who asked if Hong Kong still belongs to Great Britain …” He contacted Mats Harborn, the current chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China, who at that time was chief representative of Handelsbanken in Beijing. Harborn offered Halldin a place in the office while he was carrying out his research. “I met many representatives of Swedish companies and the conclusion was that the companies could not rely on the financial system in China – they simply had to have their own financial power,” says Halldin.
sies and consulates around the world to find offices that better suited their size and budget. One of those places was Hong Kong. In 2010, Halldin visited the consulate general there and after looking at 25 different premises it was decided that the consulate should move from the expensive Central district to Wan Chai, also on Hong Kong Island. “It was a good decision,” says Halldin. “The rent was lowered by 65 per cent and the Swedish Trade Council and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong could also move in on the same floor.” Before completing his studies, he had applied for a position at the Ministry for Foreign “It was a fun job, very much hands-on, Affairs and was accepted. His first job was which I like, and it was good to come back to to be stationed at the Embassy of Sweden in Asia,” says Halldin. Beijing as second secretary. So when the opportu“I spent three years in nity arose in 2011 to apply Beijing. It was at a time to succeed Lars Danielsson when many companies had as consul-general, Halldin a great interest in China but took the chance. He got the The amount by which the rent it was also difficult for them job and assumed his new was lowered after the Swedto understand what was happosition 1 October last year. ish consulate-general in Hong pening,” he says. It also fitted his wife Kong moved to a new location. The Halldin couple then Pernilla, who at that time returned to Sweden. They was working at H&M and had married in 1998 and their first child, was involved in the company’s expansion to Klara, was born in 2000. Eight years later she Hong Kong and Shanghai. She is now workwould get a brother, Jonathan. ing at H&M’s global production centre in In Stockholm, Halldin worked as an Hong Kong. desk officer at the section for North America, The family lives in a flat in Mid-Levels on handling trade policy and foreign policy issues Hong Kong Island, from where Halldin takes and preparing visits – for example when the the shuttle bus and MTR train every morning former US president, George W Bush, visited to work. Sweden in 2001. As many other Swedish men do, Halldin As consul-general, Halldin is responsible also took paternity leave for six months to for ensuring that Swedes in the region get take care of Klara while Pernilla worked at the good service, as well as handling of working PR agency Springtime in Stockholm. permit and student visa issues, among other Halldin’s next career step came in 2004, services, for Hong Kong citizens who want to when he was appointed counsellor at the go to Sweden. Swedish embassy in Washington. Among his “We are a service centre for Swedes living duties was to support the Swedish automakers in, not only Hong Kong, but also Macau, Volvo and Saab in their discussions with their South China, the Philippines and Taiwan,” owners in Detroit. After two years in the US says Halldin. “We also support Swedish busiit was time to return to Sweden again. ness here and stimulate cultural exchange.” He also goes to Sweden from time to time to increase awareness about Hong Kong in After a short spell at the ministry’s planning department Halldin became head of the his home country. And it seems to be needed: property and logistics unit. The ministry had “Recently, I got a question from a person who implemented a cost savings programme and asked if Hong Kong still belongs to Great Halldin was responsible for helping embasBritain …” b
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DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012 29
Reception held for scholarship holders at Uppsala University n On 29 August, Uppsala University welcomed this year’s international students for the new academic year. More than 800 students were invited to the main auditorium, where they were welcomed by the vice chancellor, Professor Eva Åkesson. In conjunction with this welcome programme, the university also arranged a special reception for the students who had been awarded scholarships for their Master’s Programme studies in Uppsala. This year, Uppsala University has put extra effort into providing scholarships for non-EU students, as these students are required to pay tuition fees for university studies in Sweden as of 2011. That same year, the Scholarship Foundation of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong for studies at Uppsala University was set up in a joint effort between the Swedish chamber and the university. This year, it awarded its first scholarship to Terrence Shum, who will be part of the Master’s programme in digital media and society. If you are interested in knowing more about the scholarship foundation and how you can support it, please do not hesitate to contact Thomas Fredengren, fund raiser at Uppsala University, thomas.fredengren@uadm.uu.se, +46 18 471 1885, or the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
From left, Per Ågren from the Swedish chamber in Hong Kong together with the scholarship holder Terrence Shum and Eva Åkesson, vice chancellor at Uppsala University.
Welcome Alexander!
Alexander de Freitas
n Alexander de Freitas has been nominated the new Anders Wall Scholarship holder at the Swedish chamber’s office in Shanghai. Alexander recently received his Bachelor’s degree from the School of Business, Economics and Law in Gothenburg, where he studied finance and Chinese language. He is very interested in international trade and business, and hopes that working for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China for 10 months will give him a better understanding of the demands and challenges when it comes to doing business in China. Alexander has studied at Fudan University in Shanghai, and he has also worked one year in China. During that time, he started an export business, selling watches to Sweden. We are pleased to welcome Alexander to the office in Shanghai and at the same time want to thank his predecessor Erik Hellstam for his excellent performance as the 2011 scholarship holder.
Welcome Elin! n SwedCham HK warmly welcomes new scholarship recipient, Elin Bornefalk, to the chamber office in Hong Kong. Elin started in September and will stay until 30 June 2013. She will, among other things, be responsible for the chamber’s 100+ Young Professionals and its events. Elin holds a Master of Science degree in Business and Economics from the University of Borås. She has broad experience from her studies in Asia, having undertaken part of her degree in China and in Southeast Asia. Elin is particularly interested in corporate social responsibility issues, which was also the topic of her Master’s thesis, which she finalised in Nepal. She also speaks some Mandarin. We all look forward to working with Elin during her time here in Hong Kong. Elin Bornefalk
Scandic Sourcing gets
Trade Minister Ewa Björling with Per Lindén, president at Scandic Sourcing, and Mats Harborn.
innovation award n At the inauguration of the Swedish innovation exhibition at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China Innovation Prize was handed out by the Swedish Minister for Trade, Ewa Björling, and the Swedish chamber’s chairman Mats Harborn. The recipient of the 2012 award, Scandic Sourcing, has developed a method for not only auditing, but also developing and implementing acceptable work standards among sub-suppliers in China to meet with internationally acceptable operational work standards. One major challenge has been the wide gap in values, in educational levels and in a common understanding. By developing a model with 21 clearly defined key criteria and by using a work method focusing on education, encouragement and engagement this year’s award winner Scandic Sourcing has managed to bring about sustainable change for more than 40 suppliers all over China. This programme was initiated four years ago, and has proven to be commercially successful. It has come about through genuine Sino-Swedish innovation and cooperation.
New consul-general in Shanghai n Viktoria Li has been appointed new consul-general of Sweden in Shanghai. She started her new job on 1 September this year. Li, who is a lawyer and political scientist, previously served at the Embassy of Sweden in Beijing. Before that, she was section head for West Africa and
the Horn of Africa at the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm, and she has also worked at the Department for International Law and Human Rights in Stockholm, at the Swedish Representation to the European Union in Brussels, and at Sweden’s embassies in Rome, Italy, and Zagreb, Croatia.
Clean Healthy Air 24/7
= Life insurance and Higher Performance
New features on the Swedish chamber’s website n To make the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China’s website easier to use and more accessible for our members we have developed the new feature, “My Account”. You will find the My Account login button on the top right side of the home page, and you cannot miss it because it is bright green in colour. After signing up as an account user, you can access the following new features: • Change your default password to a unique one • Get an overview of the events you have signed up for • Cancel registered events • Make changes to you profile • As a chamber representative you can update your corporate company profile For more information about how to sign up as a My Account user please see the My Account function guide at Chamber Picks column on the front page at www.swedishchamber.com.cn.
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At Home • Kindergarten/School/High School/University • At Work
EAS Beijing Office, China, Mr Shangyou Dong, Manager, Ph: 0086 10 85322147,Cell: 0086 135 2199 5330, Mail: shangyou.dong@easab.com
SWEDEN HQ Environmental Air of Sweden AB. Mr Göran Hertzberg, M D, Ph: 0046 761 048 350, Mail: info@easab.com
www.easab.com DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012 31
This is an advertisement from Swegon
Hong Kong
The door is open!
Crayfish Party in Hong Kong n More than 220 people attended this year’s Crayfish Party around the pool at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Thanks to our generous sponsors and the fantastic guests, this year’s party became one to remember! We are, as always, grateful to Peter Fransson of Saison Food Service who delivers the crayfish, as well as to Johan Olausson, this year’s DJ – thank you!
S
Our sponsors
Thank you also to the Consulate General of Sweden for invaluable help.
Coming up in November n Don’t miss “China Inc under New Management – Implications for Large, Medium- and Small-sized Enterprises”, a presentation after the upcoming 18th Party Congress about what China’s new top party leaders line-up means for your business. We are very pleased to have W John Hoffmann, co-founder and principal at Exceptional Resources Group (XRG) as the guest speaker for SwedCham and InterCham members. Hoffmann has more than 25 years of China strategy and transaction consulting experience. We are aiming for the second half of November. Check our website, www.swedcham.com.hk, for the exact date.
32 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
h their creative
A proud team wit
The party was held at the
hats.
Two happy participants.
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
.
wegon, the largest wholly owned subsidiary of the Swedish investment group LATOUR, is one of the world’s leading suppliers of energy-efficient systems and solutions for ventilation and climate control in all kinds of buildings. In May 2012, the company received a business license for its newest subsidiary, Swegon Indoor Climate Systems (Shanghai) Co, Ltd in China. Now it’s all about spreading good air for Swegon China Country Manager Andreas Engström: “Being located in Shanghai allows us to cover the major domestic markets in China, namely Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou in South China,” he says.
Chen Daojun, Senior Sales Manager, together with Andreas Engström, Swegon China Country Manager.
The market for indoor climate solutions in China is significant, offering many immediate and future opportunities. The Chinese government plans to make major investments in the construction industry between 2011 and 2015, and it will be a priority to reduce the environmental footprint of that investment. Swegon’s exceptionally diverse product range comprises air distribution and waterborne indoor climate systems, airhandling units, systems for residential and demand-controlled ventilation, chillers and heat-pumps, acoustics and flow control ranges. “With factories in Sweden, Italy, Finland and India, we stand for excellent quality and are known to be the leading company in innovative and energyefficient technology,” says Engström. Swegon is the
result of a merger between two market leaders: PM Luft, with over 60 years of experience in ventilation, and StifabFarex, a company with 80 years experience in climate control. Together, and in Swegon, they have unique experience and know-how. With a host of comprehensive solutions and customised components, Swegon can handle any task – from the most basic and simple to the biggest and most complex. “Swegon has developed a variety of ‘solutions’ that combine different products in integrated packages,” says Mats Holmquist, president and CEO of Swegon. “These packages are tailored to suit the seven main markets: commercial offices, hotels, factories, shopping centres and apartments, plus schools and other public buildings,” he adds. For more information, please contact: infoCN@swegon.com
Beijing Crayfish Party in Beijing n More than 230 guests showed up at the Swedish chamber’s annual Crayfish Party on 15 September at the Radisson Blu Hotel’s Royal Garden. This was a Saturday evening with a very pleasant temperature of 22°C. The party started off with a warm welcome from the MC, Lars Olofsson. On behalf of the Swedish chamber, Olofsson thanked the generous sponsors for their contributions, without them this Crayfish Party would not be happening. The delicious crayfish was sponsored by ICA. The evening that followed was filled with songs and entertainment, starting with the Oförskräckt Group performing traditional snaps songs. Especially for the evening, the sponsors were given an assignment to write a snaps song about their company and to perform it for the party audience, and the results were both amazing and fun. A special guest for the evening was Sofia Landgren who swept the audience away with her strong and beautiful voice. Sofia is an experienced entertainer in the French Alps and showed her broad talents by accompanying her singing with keyboard, ukulele and electric guitar. Later in the evening, DJ Nic made sure the dance floor was not empty for a minute. Big thanks to our gold sponsors – Ericsson, ICA, PSU, Radisson Blu, SAS, SEB, Swedbank, the Swedish Trade Council and Vinge – and our silver sponsor Nordea. Thank you for your strong support.
Coal major cause of air pollution n On 17 May, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Zhou Rong made a presentation at a well-attended breakfast meeting at the Radisson Blu hotel, to talk about the air pollution in China and the health impact of pollutants smaller than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5). Zhou first pointed out that the air pollution is not only a Beijing issue, but a regional issue. Actually, the entire eastern coastal region suffers from very heavy PM2.5 pollution, exceeding World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines by two to four times. Explaining the major cause of this PM2.5 pollu34 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
Zhou Rong from Greenpeace talked about the health impacts from particulate pollutants.
tion, Zhou pointed to energy usage in China. She compared car ownership in major cities around the world, pointing out that, contrary to popular opinion, cars are not the major cause of China’s air pollution. Rather it is an over-reliance on coal for energy that is the hidden killer in the region’s air. Many attendants expressed their concern about the health effects of PM2.5. Zhou said that, rather than wearing a mask, it is better to use air purifiers at home. She also said that everybody can contribute to China’s clean energy revolution and reduce air pollution. He said it was important to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy.
Swedish banking in China We feel at home in the Chinese market and want you to feel the same. It’s a large and fast-growing market. As a result, more and more Scandinavian companies need banking solutions, such as cash management, financing in local and foreign currencies, trade finance and treasury solutions in China. We’ll help you – bringing our 20 years of experience of business in China. If you have the opportunity, please visit us in Shanghai where we’ve been located since 2001.
Swedbank Shanghai Citigroup Tower 601, 33 Huayuanshiqiao Rd. Shanghai, China + 86 21 386 126 00
Shanghai
Crayfish Party in Shanghai n The Swedish chamber in Shanghai held their annual Crayfish Party at Paulaner Bräuhaus Expo with more than 240 happy guests. The evening started with an array of appetizers indoors, before moving on to the crayfish and a buffet outdoors. Despite some rain scares, the weather was perfect for the duration of the event, with just a few clouds and a refreshing breeze. As at any traditional Swedish crayfish party, the mood was jolly, as the crowd enjoyed the crayfish and sung well-known Swedish snaps songs. Host for the evening was Martin Stenberg, who kept the audience entertained throughout the night together with the evening’s toastmaster, Andreas Lundstedt. The front-man for popular Swedish disco ensemble Alcazar, Lundstedt was flown in from Sweden especially for the evening. After finishing the crayfish, the guests were invited back indoors for dessert and a performance by the man himself. The show, which featured some of Lundstedt’s and Alcazar’s most well-known hits, tugged everyone onto the dance floor, making for the perfect finale to a perfect evening.
Successful sourcing in China n Sourcing is an important part of the business for many companies in Shanghai, and with rising wages some question whether China is still the place for it. On 10 May, the Swedish chamber organised an event about successful sourcing in China. More than 50 members of the chamber gathered for a sponsored lunch seminar at Le Royal Meridien hotel in downtown Shanghai. The speaker, Magnus Ellström of Applied Value, with 15 years of experience in leading global supply chain engagements for clients, did not paint as bleak a picture, saying that many current costs can be cut with proper procedures. He pointed out that many companies came to China from expensive sourcing markets elsewhere, and for many years have been content with sourcing costs that were well beneath levels in Europe or America.
Find one Private Banking advisor, then make sure he knows many specialists Wealth management today involves much more than selecting the best stocks and bonds. At Nordea Private Banking, we offer you an experienced personal advisor and a comprehensive overview of your wealth based on thorough research and rigorous analysis. One private banker, many specialists – making it possible.
A new Swedish Anti-Bribery Act n On 7 June, Malin Helgesen and Qun Gu from the Vinge law firm provided an audience with some practical guidance on the new Swedish Anti-Bribery Act. Under the new law, which took force on 1 July 2012, companies that do business in Sweden will have to exercise due diligence in engaging with agents and other business partners, whether such activities occur in Sweden or abroad. Failure to do so could result in personal criminal liability for a company’s board and its management. During the breakfast meeting, the Vinge lawyers discussed how this will affect Swedish companies’ business in China and what you should do in practice if you are told that payment is “necessary” to get the deal done. 36 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
Contact Nordea in Singapore on +65 6317 6522, or e-mail eric.pedersen@nordea.com
Eric Pedersen, Private Banker
Nordea Bank S.A and Nordea Bank Finland Plc, Singapore Branch are part of Nordea Group, the leading financial services group in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. Being the leading Nordic panEuropean banking entity in Luxembourg, Nordea Bank S.A. focuses on international Wealth Management, Fund Distribution and Fund Management services. Our 400 employees serve a wide spectrum of international clients in more than 125 countries. Some products and services may, due to local regulations, not be available to individuals resident in certain countries and their availability may depend, among other things, on the investment risk profile of persons in receipt of this publication or on any legislation to which they are subject. Nothing in this publication should be construed as an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to purchase, subscribe to or sell any investment or product, or to engage in any other transaction or provide any kind of financial or banking service in any jurisdiction where Nordea Bank S.A. and Nordea Bank Finland Plc, Singapore Branch or any of their affiliates do not have the necessary licence. Published by Nordea Bank Finland Plc, Singapore Branch, 3 Anson Rd #22-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909 www.nordeaprivatebanking.com subject to the supervision of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (www.mas.gov.sg ).
AD_dragonnews_eng.indd 1
15/02/2012 08:53
HONG KONG ORDINARY MEMBERS >>>
Nordic Light Group (HK) Ltd 1701 Tai Yau Building, 181 Johnston Road Wan Chai, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2508 1711 Email: Raymond@nucohk.com Web: www.nordiclight.com Activities Nordic Light designs, manufactures and markets a complete range of high-performance, energy-efficient display and retail lighting fixtures for the international market. Our headquarters are located in Skellefteå, Sweden, with wholly owned factories located in China. We aim to continually work with product development, staying as far ahead as possible in terms of user-friendliness and dependability. Good design, affordability and low environmental impact are other characteristics we value highly. Combined together, these qualities make for a typical Nordic Light product. Nordic Light Group sales in 2010 amounted to SEK570 million, with 90 employees in Sweden and around 500 abroad. Since September 2011, Nordic Light has been a part of the ITAB Shop Concept, listed on OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm.
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Stockholm Ltd 1/F, No 31 Elgin Street, Hong Kong Tel: +852 9823 2676 Email: roger.johansson@stockholm.com.hk joanna.lelek@stockholm.com.hk Web: www.stockholm.com.hk
Activities Stockholm is a company owned and operated by Roger Johansson (CEO), Mats Johansson (Sales Director) and Joanna Lelek (CFO). Our main area of business is importing alcohol from selected producers in Europe. We specialise in superpremium vodkas from Sweden, wines from the Moravia region, sparkling wines from Moravia, France, Italy and Spain, liqueurs from Slovakia and award-winning champagne. Our goal is to be able to supply the demands of a full-concept business, a client that can stock a full range of products that satisfies all pallets and tastes in combination with a full range of HoReCa accessories, such as decanters, champagne buckets and chandeliers from Skultuna. Chamber representatives Roger Johansson, CEO Joanna Lelek, CFO
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Work Space sells Swedish office furniture brand Kinnarps in China and through out South East Asia. Please contact us to arrange an introduction meeting at your office or to schedule a visit to our showroom in Beijing.
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Chamber representative Raymond Svahn
Project Performance Ltd 5/F Central Tower 28 Queen’s Road Central Central, Hong Kong Tel +46 703 29 38 88 Email: daniel.palsson@telia.com Web: www.projectperformance.asia
RNB Far East Ltd Unit 8-16, 26 Floor CEO Tower No 77 Wing Hong Street, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: +852 6620 0090 Email: ida.gullbrandson@rnb.se Web: www.rnb.se
Activities We provide technical and commercial expertise to owners and EPC contractors, while developing, funding and executing capital projects in pulp and paper, energy production and water and effluent treatment. Project Performance works with developers, owners or contractors of successful turnkey projects in Asia and Europe, with capital expenditures between US$38 million and US$1.3 billion, and often subject to limited recourse finance. We are independent consultants, with an extensive global network of technology suppliers, experts, consulting engineers, contractors and supervisors. We have been active in China and Asia since 1989.
Activities RNB Far East Ltd is RNB´s production office in Hong Kong. From this office we handle all Asian operations for JC, Brothers & Sisters and Polarn O Pyret. We launched in November 2011 and currently have 21 staff. RNB Retail and Brands owns, operates and develops fashion, clothing, accessories, jewellery and cosmetics stores that focus on providing excellent service and a worldclass shopping experience. Sales are mainly conducted in Scandinavia through the three store concepts JC, Brothers & Sisters and Polarn O Pyret, as well as through shops in the department store, NK, in Stockholm and Gothenburg. RNB Retail and Brands has operations in 11 countries and some 390 stores, of which approximately 45 per cent are operated by franchises. RNB Retail and Brands has been listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange since 2001.
Chamber representative Daniel Pålsson, Director
Chamber representative Ida Gullbrandson, CEO
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For more information visit our websites: www.work-space.cn and www.kinnarps.com Room 1501, Tower 1, Xiaoyun Center, No. 15 Xiaguangli, Chaoyang District, Beijing Tel: +86 10 8446 3162 Fax: +86 10 8446 3163
WORK SPACE INTERIOR SOLUTIONS
Lene Larsen Tel: +852 5185 3588 Email: lene.larsen@coop.dk
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Savills Hong Kong Limited 23/F Two Exchange Square Central Hong Kong Tel: +852 2842 4400 Email: kyu@savills.com.hk ehuang@savills.com.hk Web: www.savills.com
Åke Linder Tel: +852 9363 8588 Email: akelinder@hotmail.com
Activities Savills is a global real estate services provider listed on the London Stock Exchange. Throughout our international network of over 500 offices and associates in the Americas, Britain, continental Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, we employ approximately 20,000 people worldwide, and offer a wide range of high-quality, comprehensive property-related services to developers, owners, tenants and investors across all the key segments of retail, commercial, industrial, residential and investment property. Savills was ranked the property industry’s No 1 employer by The Times of London in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and has been ranked the best Business Superbrand in the real estate sector by the Centre for Brand Analysis. Chamber representatives Kenny Yu Senior Manager Hong Kong Office Leasing Ellen Huang Associate Hong Kong Office Leasing
Karolin Lindgren Tel: +852 9661 9156 Email: kalindgren@ossur.com
Björn Borg Unit 810, 8th floor, Yueda 889 No 1111, Changshou Road Jing’an District Shanghai 200042 Tel: +86 21 2230 1783 Web: www.bjornborg.com
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Constant Tedder Tel: +852 9356 7883 Email: constant@thehive.com.hk
Mats Berglund Tel: +852 6115 0010 Email: mberglund@pacificbasin.com
JOHNNY’S PHOTO & VIDEO SUPPLY LTD
Erik Engström Tel: +852 6607 3717 Email: erik.engstrom@startjg.com
• Photographic Equipment • Video/Audio Hi-Fi Equipment • Home Appliances • Colour Film Processing/Enlargement • Audio/Video Dubbing Services • Communication Equipment • Electronic Equipment • Repairing Services • Mail Order Acceptable Shop No.65, 1/F, Admiralty Centre, 18 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong Tel: 852-2877-2227 Fax: 852-2877-2120 Mobile: 9051-9499 E-mail: johnnysphoto@live.hk Opening Hour: Mon – Sat 9:00am – 7:00pm Sunday 2:00pm – 6:00pm
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Activities Björn Borg is a Swedish tennis player and one of the most iconic sportsmen in history. Björn Borg’s unique style and rock-star qualities were the inspiration for the Björn Borg brand in 1984. Nowadays, Björn Borg is an international fashion brand with a focus on colourful fashion underwear, sportswear, bags, footwear, eyewear and fragrances.
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Jula AB Shanghai Office Room 6311, West Building Jin Jiang Hotel No 59, Mao Ming Road (South) Shanghai 200020 Tel: +86 21 5466 0269 Fax: +86 21 6415 2081 Web: www.jula.com
Activities Jula AB Shanghai Office focuses on the sourcing of qualified suppliers and quality products in categories that include hardware, machinery, textiles, electrical and electronic appliances. Jula AB is also dedicated in working together with suppliers and certified third parties on improvement of corporate social responsibility.
Chamber representative Jim Rosengren, Brand Director China Email: jimrosengren@bjornborg.com
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HONG KONG INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS >>>
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CHINA ORDINARY MEMBERS >>>
Chamber representatives Magnus Sigurd, Purchasing Manager Email: magnus.sigurd@jula.se Mobile: +46 701 908 911 John Qing, Sourcing Manager Email: john.qing@jula.com Mobile: +86 139 1687 6852
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Lorensbergs 12th floor, Sail Tower No 266, Hankou Road Huangpu District Shanghai 200002 Tel: +86 21 6054 8061 Fax: +86 21 6217 5152 Web: www.lorensbergs.se
Activities Lorensbergs helps clients who are seeking to improve the way in which people interact and communicate with each other. Our training concepts and consulting focus on improving presenting skills, influencing, communicating through cultural differences, using virtual technologies, leadership and languages including Mandarin, English and German. With our head office in Gothenburg, Sweden, and offices based throughout the globe, the Lorensbergs team of consultants has worked with many of the world’s leading global companies. Chamber representatives Trevor Durnford, CEO Email: trevor@lorensbergs.se Mobile: +46 70 8181 546 Rinna Chang Email: rinna.chang@lorensbergs.se Mobile: +86 137 9545 2076
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Danderyds Gymnasium Rinkebyvägen 4 SE-18236 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 8 5689 1301 Fax: +46 8 5689 1319 Web: www.dagy.danderyd.se Activities We have an exchange programme with a high school affiliated to Fudan University in Shanghai. Our students are finalyear, Grade 12 students (18 years old), and this exchange is part of their education, and connected to a course in International Economy. We intend to visit China once a year with 16 Grade 12 students, for about 10 days. We will also host Chinese students at Danderyds Gymnasium. Chamber representative Anders Duvkar, Headmaster Email: anders.duvkar@dagy.danderyd.se Direct line: +46 8 5689 1302
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Dellner Coupler System Technology (Shanghai) Co, Ltd Room 205, behind building No 2468 Gudai Road, Minhang District Shanghai 201199 Tel: +86 21 6442 2182 Fax: +86 21 6442 2187 Web: www.dellner.com
eWork Klarabergsgatan 60 SE-11121 Stockholm Sweden Tel: +46 8 5060 5500 Fax: +46 8 5060 5501 Web: www.eworknordic.com
Activities We offer specialists worldwide in IT, telecom, technology, and management. This means that we can always guarantee delivery of the right skills at the right price. By collecting your consulting services from us, you can save time, streamline administration and cut costs. Chamber representatives Erik Thornberg, Global Sourcing Director Email: erik.thornberg@ework.se Mobile: +46 70 355 4679 Jimmie Carling, Regional Manager Email: jimmie.carling@eworknordic.com Mobile: +46 70 388 6004
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Activities Starting out in 1941 as a small Swedish manufacturer of rail couplers, Dellner has grown to become a global player in the train industry – offering production and after-market services for train connection systems, dampers and gangways. Today, Dellner has production or service offices in every part of the world, and we have all of the world’s largest train builders as our customers. Dellner Coupler System Technology (Shanghai) Co, Ltd (DCCN) was established as Dellner’s subsidiary in China in 2003. Our Chinese subsidiary, in Shanghai’s Xinzhuang Industry Park, houses an assembly workshop and staff for sales, after-sales, procurement and project management. Our Chinese office will play an important role in our expansion plans. Chamber representatives Jon Lind, Deputy Group Managing Director Managing Director Systems Division Email: jon.lind@dellner.com, Mobile: +86 186 2130 6435 Guobin Song, Managing Director Email: guobin.song@dellner.com, Mobile: +86 135 8569 5258
Swegon Indoor Climate Systems (Shanghai) Co, Ltd Unit 2607C, Ascendas Plaza No 333, Tianyao Qiao Road Shanghai 200030 Tel: +86 21 2215 7560 Fax: +86 21 2215 7561 Web: www.swegon.com Activities Swegon AB belongs to the Latour Group, and manufactures and sells products and solutions for indoor climate systems. The Swegon Group has 1,300 employees, and its turnover is EUR310 million. Swegon China is promoting holistic, energy-efficient solutions with low life-cycle costs that are equipped with built-in intelligence, allowing for easy and quick installations. Chamber representative Andreas Engström Email: andreas.engstrom@swegon.com Mobile: +86 138 1721 9045
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Triton Advisers (Shanghai) Co, Ltd 8th floor, IFC, No 8, Century Avenue Pudong New District, Shanghai 200120 Tel: +86 21 6062 7278 Fax: +86 21 6062 7275 Web: www.triton-partners.com Activities Triton is an investment firm dedicated to investing in medium-size businesses headquartered in Northern Europe, with a focus on Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the four Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. In China, Triton and its professionals have been working and investing in more than three core sectors for many years. Chamber representative Chen Wei, Partner Email: chen.wp@triton-partners.com, Mobile: +86 136 0177 3196
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United Minds Samhällsanalys AB Slussplan 9 SE-10064 Stockholm Sweden Tel: +46 8 5031 4600 Web: www.unitedminds.se
IF P&C Insurance Barksväg 15, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 771 43 00 00 Web: www.if-insurance.com
Activities United Minds is a unique business intelligence consultancy based in Stockholm, Sweden. We work globally together with our clients to better understand changes in society and, moreover, leverage this understanding in our clients operations and communications. We use knowledge gathered through qualitative and quantitative analysis to give our customers a competitive edge. United Minds has conducted projects in China since 2006. Chamber representatives Emma Persson Email: emma.persson@unitedminds.se Mobile: +46 70 7240 974 Jimmy Sandell Email: jimmy.sandell@unitedminds.se
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Activities Risk consulting. Chamber representative Håkan Edoff, Email: hakan.edoff@if.se, Mobile: +46 73 997 8297
CHINA ASSOCIATE MEMBER >>>
TOOLS is the leading supplier of industrial consumables and industrial components in the Nordic region. We assist industrial companies with a complete range of products and services for efficient maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) of their production facilities. www.tools.se
Torbjörn Vestberg Apt 102, Block 8 No 1696, Huaihai Middle Road (Huaihai Zhong Lu), Xuhui District Shanghai 200031 Email: psychologist@live.se Mobile: +86 186 1673 2408 (China) +46 73-5140 870 (Sweden)
SWEDEN’S LEADING BOARDING SCHOOL High school and Middle school programmes in Swedish or English. The IB Diploma has been established at SSHL for over 30 years with a proven record of success. Numerous free time activities and close contacts with universities and industry. Our school is located in idyllic Sigtuna on the shores of Lake Mälar, close to Stockholm cultural life and Arlanda airport. Come and visit SSHL, an international version of Sweden. We are happy to show you the school and our activities at any time. We also offer a trial period, giving you the opportunity to experience school and boarding life. During the summer we offer summer courses in Swedish and Mathematics.
SIGTUNASKOLAN HUMANISTISKA LÄROVERKET Telephone: +46 8 592 571 00 www.sshl.se
UNITED FOR INDUST R IAL E F F I C I E NCY 44 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China 1
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Annual General Meeting in Beijing 2012
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n This beautiful Friday afternoon, 25 May, chairman Mats Harborn together with vice chairman Katarina Nilsson declared the chamber’s 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) open. Everything went according to the suggestion from the election committee and the chamber got three new board members: Karine Hirn, East Capital, Daniel Karlsson, Asia Perspective, and Martin Pei, SSAB. Johan Menckel and Pao-Ling Röjdmark where thanked for long and strong contribution to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce since they both will return to Sweden. Right after the AGM, the Summer Party took place; starting off with cocktails and “conversation starters”; all guests were asked to write down in short words on a sticker what they were going to do this summer and patch it on the chest, this opened up for great conversation with old and new friends. The dinner started off with The Oförskräckt Group singing summer songs with flowers in their hair and during the extraordinary dinner, served by Radisson Blu, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Honorary Award was awarded Leif Johansson, former CEO at AB Volvo, for significant contributions Sino-Swedish industrial and trade relations. Johansson thanked the Swedish chamber with a 46 DRAGONNEWS • NO.03/2012
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1. The Oförskräckt Group did put that right summer feeling at the party with their beautiful summer tunes. 2. Leif Johansson (left) receives the Swedish Chamber Honorary Award from Sweden’s Ambassador to China, Lars Fredén, and the chamber chairman Mats Harborn. 3. The Swedish stand-up comedian David Batra entertains the members. 4. The chamber held its 15th AGM in May this year. 5. Summer flowers on the tables. 6. Katarina Nilsson and Mats Harborn led the meeting.
fun and much appreciated thank you speech, accompanied with big applause from the audience. Just in time for coffee and dessert, David Batra, a well-known Swedish comedian and author, held an even more fun-filled talk about Swedes and culture clashes. After the dinner we all joined in the Royal Garden with acoustic music by Dominic and Ben and a Charity Bar opened up, sponsored by Pernod Ricard and Mackmyra. The bar offered a wide selection of summer drinks and the profit from the bar and from books donated by David Batra, went straight to the Surmang Foundation, which operates a high-quality primary clinic in the Surmang region of Qinghai where patients are treated for free. A big thank you to all our sponsors who made this Summer Party a big success: Advokatfirman Vinge, Handelsbanken, Radisson Blu Hotel and Swedish Trade Council, Mackmyra and Pernod Ricard. The new board of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China consists of chairman Mats Harborn, vice chairmen Katarina Nilsson and Fredrik Ektander, treasurer Erik Ek, general manager Yvonne Chen, and directors Sara Wramner, Lars- Åke Severin, Thomas Sörensson, Tom Nygren, Birgitta Ed, Daniel Karlsson, Martin Pei and Karine Hirn.
To see how we can help you please visit our website www.pcs.com.hk or write to John Barclay at johnbarclay@primasia.com
A fter hour s ScanGlobalAdDragonNews.pdf
7/20/11
12:51:55 PM
n Design Swedish design for new Octopus card reader
Allan Riber Nielsen, Sales Manager Hong Kong and South China.
Frequent bus riders in Hong Kong may have noted that selected Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) busses have been equipped with a new and improved Octopus card reader. What they perhaps didn’t know is that the design comes from the Swedish-owned design firm C’monde Studios in Hong Kong. “The initial brief from the client only included an external design update but we managed to persuade them to improve the interface as well. By increasing the font size, layout and contrast in the interface, we managed to cater for a wider audience, including those with poor eyesight,“ says design director Johan Persson.
n Art
n Books
Swedish ceramic artwork at its best
Swedes in Shanghai
The Swedish designer and craftsman Gustaf Nordenskiöld held an exhibition of his ceramic works at Galerie NeC in Hong Kong from 24 August to 29 September. Nordenskiöld, born in Sweden in 1966, works mainly with stoneware, porcelain, ropes and rubber, exploring an area somewhere between design crafts, arts and industrial production. An interest in functionality and the interface between man and object is central to his ceramic pieces. Learn more about Nordenskiöld’s artworks at www.gustafsweden.com.
The former consul-general of Sweden in Shanghai, Bengt Johansson, has launched a book entitled Shanghai. Svenskars liv & öden 1847-2012 (Shanghai – Swedes’ Lives and Fortunes 1847-2012). The vice-consulate in Shanghai was appointed in 1853, and was upgraded to a consulate general in 1863. It is one of Sweden’s oldest foreign missions in Asia. In those early days, many Swedish sailors and officers lived in the city, many of them working with the administration of the Shanghai International Settlement. In the first decade of the 20th century, Swedish companies such as Ekmans and SKF were present. A large number of the Swedes who registered at the consulate were missionaries who passed through Shanghai on their way to the interior. After the second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, many Swedes left Shanghai. In 1956, the consulate was closed, as were many other consulates in Shanghai. Since re-opening in September 1996, the Swedish community in Shanghai has seen development at a juggernaut pace, with the number of Swedes in Shanghai growing to more than 1,600 by 2012.
n Books Different, isn’t it?
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Gustaf Nordenskiöld
n Health Swedish healthcare website for China
Photo: Ulla Montan
What is it like to live in an economic miracle, in a brutal military dictatorship or in areas where a natural disaster might occur at any minute? In his new book Annorlunda, eller hur? Några östasiatiska röster (Different, isn’t it? Some East-Asian voices) Björn Ådahl gives people who live under such conditions the opportunity to talk about themselves and about the societies they live in. Farmers, lawyers, whalers, businessmen, comedians and students are amongst those featured. Their stories illuminate the great changes the region has undergone lasting recent decades. The interlocutors come from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, The Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia. Ådahl has been living in Hong Kong for 17 years, and working as a freelance journalist. He is a Swedish speaking Finn. In Hong Kong, Ådahl has spent most of his time learning as much as possible about East Asia through reading, travelling and talking to people. He has travelled extensively in the region, visiting many of the countries several times. In China, one of his favourite countries, he has travelled to almost every province. The book is illustrated with black and white photographs, maps and drawings, and was printed on recycled paper in Shenzhen, southern China. Ådahl’s book also provides useful suggestions for further reading about East Asia. You can buy the book via the website www.apsaraforlag.com, which also hosts Ådahl’s blog.
A Swedish healthcare website in Chinese is under construction. The site, www.bonzun.com/zh, is intended to be a health guide for families and new mothers in China. The site uses medical information endorsed by the Swedish medical university, Karolinska institutet. The website also offers opportunities to chat with licensed and knowledgeable midwifes. The target group is parents, and the topics are pregnancy and healthcare for small children. Bonzun’s goal is to have more than 5 million users after the first three years. The founder of Bonzun, Hellen Wohlin Lidgard, told the daily, Computer Sweden, that in China there is a need for this kind of information since there are no children’s clinics and people have little confidence in their doctors. The success of the site may also well get a boost from the fact that China leads the world in internet use, with users spending more than 17 hours a week on the web.
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“Anybody can move goods from A to B. The difference is how you do it.”
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www.scangl.com
“In addition to shipping goods from A to B, we can handle everything you may need in between: warehousing, quality control, labelling, consolidation, customs handling, certificate applications, bonded warehousing, distribution and project logistics. Also, we like to think we are doing it the Scandinavian way–more control and responsibility and less hassle and excuses. Call me or send an email to arni@scangl.com and let’s talk some Scandinavian. Welcome!”
41/F, China Online Centre, 333 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. +852 2117 4800.
T he chamber and I
A great platform for networking “Sponsoring some of the chamber events meant great exposure for us,” says Ida Lövaas at Mackmyra, who sees the events organised by the Swedish chamber as good opportunities to meet people and build relationships.
Ida Lovaas is marketing Swedish whisky in China.
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da Lövaas, 25, is Asia brand manager for Mackmyra Svensk Whisky, a company she has worked for since 2010. Her China experience started in her late teens, when she lived in Shanghai for three years with her family. During her university studies, she spent a further half-year in Beijing doing an internship with Ericsson. She returned to China in April 2012 to develop Mackmyra’s business in China. “It was a great opportunity for someone like me who loves challenges and always wanted to come back to China,” she says. When did your company become a member of the Swedish chamber? “Mackmyra Svensk Whisky became a member in 2011, when we took our first steps into the Chinese market. The chamber was a great support for us at that stage of starting a business in China, a source of valuable knowledge and experience.” Where is the value of being a member for you? “Member value for us is gaining access to the wide network of companies and people in the Swedish business community. Meeting people and building relationships are key to doing business in China, and the chamber’s events provide the platform to do this. On a personal level, being a member of Young Professionals has been very valuable for me. I have found some great new friends through this network.”
Serving Mackmyra cocktails for charity with the help of the chamber’s board members … was definitely a highlight.” companies. As a newcomer, it is great to meet with other companies facing similar issues as us and to learn from the experiences of companies that have been here longer. Also, sponsoring some of the chamber events meant great exposure for us within the Swedish community, which was valuable in the beginning of our journey.”
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What kind of activities would you like the chamber to arrange in the future? “It would be interesting to see more events with Chinese speakers presenting their views on business, and from Swedish companies that are active in China. I am also a fan of inspirational talks by leaders of other Swedish companies, as I find it fascinating to hear about their successes and struggles while doing business in China.”
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As a new business in China, what has been the biggest challenge for Mackmyra? “China is a market with great potential. However, it is a big task to grasp this dynamic market and to find our place in it. Finding the right partner is one of the most important factors for a successful future for Mackmyra in the Chinese market. We think the best way to do this and to learn is by being here ourselves. That will take time and patience.” In what way has the Swedish chamber’s network been of value in your work? “Networking is vital to doing business in China and the chamber gives us the opportunity to develop our relationships with other Swedish
What is your favourite chamber experience so far? “I have been to some great chamber events both in Beijing and in Shanghai that have helped me in our business here. But serving Mackmyra cocktails for charity with the help of the chamber’s board members at the Annual General Meeting’s Summer Party was definitely a highlight.” Finally, do you have any comments about Dragon News? “Dragon News is a much appreciated way of keeping updated with Swedish business in China, as well as current issues on the local market.” b
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China
DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD Ulf Ohrling, Chairman [Mannheimer Swartling] Carl Christensson [Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken] Eva Henriksson [Henriksson Consulting] Dan Lindwall [Handelsbanken] Staffan Löfgren [ScanAsia Consulting] Gunnar Mansfeld, Treasurer [Troy Solutions] Laurence McDonald [Ericsson] Kristian Odebjer [Advokatfirman Odebjer Fohlin] Per Ågren [APC Asia Pacific Cargo]
DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD Mats Harborn, Chairman [Scania] Katarina Nilsson, Vice Chairman [Advokatfirman Vinge] Fredrik Ektander, Vice Chairman [SEB] Erik Ek, Treasurer [Swedbank] Yvonne Chen [GM, Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China] Birgitta Ed [Springtime] Karine Hirn [East Capital] Daniel Karlsson [Asia Perspective] Tom Nygren [Ericsson] Martin Pei [SSAB] Lars-Åke Severin [PSU] Thomas Sörensson [B&B Tools] Sara Wramner [VisitSweden]
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推动世界 —— 沃尔沃卡车 www.VolvoGroup.com.cn 我们是，沃尔沃集团