On 8th November 2011 Mr. Steven Perry, the Chair of The 48 Group Club, delivered the inspiring lecture in the Hong Kong theatre - "Doing Business with China: Problems, Challenge, and Opportunities". He briefly introduced the background of the 48 Group Club going on to share with the audience his experiences in doing business with China, the growing competitive transitional market.
The 48 Group, established in the early 1950s, were the first Westerners establish mutually beneficial trade relations with the newly formed People's Republic of China. Mr. Steven Perry is the son of the founding member of 48 Group Club, and is carrying on his father's career to help British companies and organizations (to) develop business in China.
Mr. Perry emphasized the importance in business of understanding Chinese policies and politics to the highest degree. He discussed how China is no longer satisfied with being a low-cost export country, and is starting to show an interest in obtaining raw materials, high technologies, market shares, brand names, etc. "Western companies should not treat China as solely a huge market," said Mr. Perry, "but as a global partner." In conclusion, he shed some light on China's current foreign trade plans with Central Asia, Africa and South America, as opposed to purely dealing with the US and the EU.
The talk outlined many of the key factors required to develop a business successfully with China, achieve a mutually beneficial situation, and discussed ongoing changes in China that will potentially affect the global economy.