Shanghai, China, 14 November 2018 – TMF Group and China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) today jointly released a white paper – China-UK Investment: Strategies for success in the new ‘golden age’. Based on research and the views of experts, the paper examined the present and future prospects and challenges of Chinese investment in the UK and what promises to be a new ‘special relationship’.
The paper argues that the UK is attractive to Chinese companies with global ambitions. As a major international financial centre and the world’s biggest foreign exchange trading hub, London plays a key role in China’s push to internationalize its currency, the renminbi, and for its banks and financial institutions to expand globally. Other factors underpinning the UK’s appeal as an investment destination have been that it is a traditional defender of free trade, has a liberal economic environment, and currently has a relatively weak currency.
Wincy Wong, Director of Consultancy Solutions at TMF Hong Kong said: “In the first half of 2018, the UK attracted US$1.6bn in investment from China, and making it the most popular European destination after Sweden. As a mature, services-oriented economy, the UK offers a range of investment opportunities that correspond to China’s strategic priorities This alignment is set to drive further investment and partnerships in sectors like education, healthcare, energy, logistics and transport.”
Felix Ndeloa, Director of Consultancy Solutions at TMF UK said: “Despite the broadly positive picture there are several forces that could impact future investment trends negatively. Chinese companies may overlook the regulatory and compliance complications of investing in the country. These include an intricate tax regime and stringent rules around employment and data protection. These issues argue for Chinese firms seeking the support of a knowledgeable local partner who can help ensure their operations are compliant and continuously up to date across taxation, accounting, employment and data policy – especially as factors like Brexit seem likely to rapidly shift the picture in some areas. Securing such a partnership will free investors to concentrate on the more strategically important tasks of cultivating their UK presence and building relationships with local enterprises and the community.”
Weifeng Ma, Director, Financial & Professional Services and China Outbound at CBBC added, “Uncertainties surrounding Brexit could temporarily impact investment activity, but in the long run CBBC is confident that the UK’s investment environment will prove attractive to Chinese investors. As the UK creates new trade and investment relationships after leaving the European Union, China will become an even more important partner.”
For further information, please contact
Mavis Fan, PR & Communications, APAC: Mavis.Fan@tmf-group.com
About TMF Group:
TMF Group helps its clients operate internationally and ‘belong’ wherever they are in the world. We do this by making sure they are properly set up to do business in any country and compliant with local and international regulations. Our work includes helping companies of all sizes with business services such as HR and payroll, accounting and tax, corporate secretarial, global governance and administration and fiduciary services for structured finance, private equity and real estate investments. We have more than 7,000 in-country experts in over 80 jurisdictions worldwide. www.tmf-group.com
About CBBC:
The China-Britain Business Council helps British and Chinese businesses and organisations work together in China, the UK and third markets around the world. With 60 years of experience and experts across the UK and China, we work in a strategic partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce in China to deliver streamlined services to our joint members. http://www.cbbc.org/