Chinese outbound investment into the developed economies of Europe hit record heights in the past year, spurred by amiable investment communities, valued properties and advanced know-how, writes Alainna Wrigley
Society and business pages alike erupted in May with headlines of the generosity of Tiens Group billionaire founder and president Li Jinyuan, who treated nearly 6,500 employees to a European excursion. An international array of Tiens workers from more than 50 jurisdictions travelled in nearly 150 buses from Paris to Cannes to Nice to Monaco to celebrate the direct sales giant’s 20th anniversary and its partnership with France.
By the end of the four-day trip, which cost a reported €13 million (US$14.2 million), the group had broken a number of records, including setting the Guinness World Record for the longest human-constructed phrase: Tiens’ dream is Nice in the Cote d’Azur.
Tiens, active in more than 100 countries, may be an anomaly in the global scale of its business, but investment no longer flows in one direction in China. As China’s economy progressively matures, Chinese investors are looking beyond their borders to diversify their holdings and seek new consumers and expertise in line with the country’s Going Global strategy. For those seeking high tech expertise, renowned and experienced manufacturers, reliable foods, aviation options and high-value property, Western and Southern Europe offers an unbeatable deal.
Research from Baker & McKenzie and Rhodium Group reveals that Chinese investment into Europe hit record levels in 2014, recording 153 deals worth more than US$18 billion. The developed economies of Western and Southern Europe were top destinations, with investment into the UK, Italy, France, Portugal and Germany accounting for more than 80% (US$14.5 billion) of the deals recorded.
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