Firms risk missing out on China opportunities

Almost one in four companies now uses the renminbi (RMB) to do business with China, but few are capitalising on the Chinese government’s flagship ‘Belt and Road’ trade initiatives, a survey from HSBC Commercial Banking shows.

In a poll conducted by HSBC of 1,600 decision-makers across 14 countries, 24% said their firm is using RMB. Yet when asked about Belt and Road – aka ‘one belt, one road’ (OBOR) -the name given to a series of policy developments and infrastructure projects designed to spur US$2.5 trillion of cross-border commerce annually – only 41% said they understand the opportunities it presents. In addition, only 7% of ‘aware’ businesses are working on a strategy.

“Belt and Road projects are already presenting huge opportunities for companies that can help develop physical infrastructure such as highways, ports and telecommunications networks,” said Noel Quinn, chief executive officer (CEO) of HSBC Commercial Banking.

“But these are only the first steps. By boosting connectivity, Belt and Road will catalyse trade between more than 65 countries that are home to nearly two thirds of the world’s population. For any company seeking growth and new customers, that’s an exciting proposition to explore.”

First laid out by Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road blueprint aims to develop two corridors linking China to the world. The ‘Belt’ refers to the historic overland Silk Road trading routes connecting China via central Asia to Europe and the Middle East. The ‘Road’ refers to the maritime equivalents to the south, linking China, Southeast Asia, India and Africa.

The report notes that Chinese enterprises invested US$14.8bn in 49 countries along the ‘New Silk Road’ last year, working on projects including an Indonesian railway, a Greek logistics hub and Bangladeshi power facilities. The state-run China Development Bank (CDB) has said it plans to contribute US$895bn of project funding.

The survey notes that Chinese enterprises invested US$14.8bn in 49 countries along the ‘New Silk Road’ last year, working on projects including an Indonesian railway, a Greek logistics hub and Bangladeshi power facilities. The state-run China Development Bank (CDB) has said it plans to contribute US$895bn of project funding.

From the small number of businesses that are aware of Belt and Road, the survey shows that European and North American firms are seeking an early advantage. In Europe, 12% of ‘aware’ businesses are developing strategies to benefit from these initiatives, with North America close behind at 9%. In the Asia-Pacific region outside China just 6% of ‘aware’ firms are making specific Belt and Road plans.

As the initiatives progress they are likely to boost international use of the RMB. To track global perceptions of China’s trade and currency, HSBC commissioned a similar survey from Nielsen in 2015. Allowing for one country change, replacing Brazil with Mexico, comparison of the two surveys shows the number of companies using RMB for cross-border commerce rising to 24% from 17% a year earlier.

One reason for this is that businesses find the RMB much easier to use, according to the 2016 survey. As Chinese financial regulations evolve, and as businesses become more accustomed to using China’s currency, respondents said they’re having less difficulty understanding regulations, navigating documentary requirements and moving funds than they did in the past.

For its 2016 survey the banking group polled decision-makers in Australia, Canada, mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UK and the US who represent companies that conduct international business with or from China.   

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