China’s FDI in the EU’s Environmental Protection Industries
China and Europe’s Partnership for a More Sustainable World
ISBN: 978-1-78635-332-0, eISBN: 978-1-78635-331-3
Publication date: 22 December 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this chapter is to analyze China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) to the European Union in environmental industries.
Methodology/approach
We combine a narrative approach with statistical analysis. We first review the policy background concerning China’s OFDI and environmental protection. Then, we provide statistics on China’s OFDI to the EU in environmental industries, using firm-level data from one of China’s major provinces: Jiangsu.
Findings
We find that the OFDI to the EU in environmental industries experienced a considerable growth in terms of number of investing firms and investment value. The OFDI in environmental industries to the EU was highly concentrated in a few countries, particularly Germany and Luxemburg, and a few industries, particularly new energy.
Research limitations
Using firm-level data from only one province may limit the generalizability of our findings. However, we believe the case of Jiangsu province sheds much light on the situation of entire China because Jiangsu is one of the most important Chinese provinces in terms of OFDI.
Practical implications
The detailed analysis of our Jiangsu’s OFDI in EU’s environmental industries in this chapter can help to inform the investment cooperation in environmental industries between China and EU in terms of both scope of investment partners and target industries.
Originality/value
This study is one of the first to provide a detailed summary statistics on China’s OFDI to the EU in environmental industries. Given China’s growing concerns regarding environmental protection and OFDI, we believe the question merits further analysis.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
We thank Francesca Spigarelli and the editor for their very helpful comments and constructive suggestions. Our research was funded from Marie Curie project on Partnering opportunities between Europe and China in the Renewable energies and environmental industries-POREEN. This publication does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the EU, all errors are ours.
Citation
Zhao, C., Dai, M., Zhang, Q. and Wen, L. (2016), "China’s FDI in the EU’s Environmental Protection Industries", Spigarelli, F., Curran, L. and Arteconi, A. (Ed.) China and Europe’s Partnership for a More Sustainable World, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 97-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78635-332-020161028
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited