Switzerland: Blessing or Curse for Chinese Companies?
Why this topic?
Today, there are 80 plus Chinese-owned companies operating in Switzerland, some are representative offices, others are acquisitions of former Swiss companies.
In 2017, a landmark transaction took place. Chinese state-owned ChemChina purchased for USD 43 billion Basel-based agrochemical company, Syngenta. It is to date, still, the largest outbound acquisition by any Chinese company.
What elements of the Swiss economy, political system, culture and people are most appealing to Chinese companies? What do these Chinese owners hope to achieve here? Has the reality been what they had expected? Do the different work styles and intercultural understanding pose any challenges?
In the past year, Beijing has clamped down on financial leverage and overseas investments of Chinese enterprises. Will this put a brake on the ambitious global expansion goals of Chinese companies? Should we expect to see a slowdown – or even a retreat?
Today, there are 80 plus Chinese-owned companies operating in Switzerland, some are representative offices, others are acquisitions of former Swiss companies.
In 2017, a landmark transaction took place. Chinese state-owned ChemChina purchased for USD 43 billion Basel-based agrochemical company, Syngenta. It is to date, still, the largest outbound acquisition by any Chinese company.
What elements of the Swiss economy, political system, culture and people are most appealing to Chinese companies? What do these Chinese owners hope to achieve here? Has the reality been what they had expected? Do the different work styles and intercultural understanding pose any challenges?
In the past year, Beijing has clamped down on financial leverage and overseas investments of Chinese enterprises. Will this put a brake on the ambitious global expansion goals of Chinese companies? Should we expect to see a slowdown – or even a retreat?
