C-Quotient Campus Series Session 6: Green China

The sixth session of the C-Quotient Campus series was held on 28 October 2010 at an auditorium in Nanyang Technological University. About 200 students eager to know more about “Green China” filled the auditorium.

Business China invited two experts to share their knowledge relating to “Green China”. The first speaker was Dr Ong Liang Eng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Greater China, CNA China Co. Ltd and the second speaker, Mr Chan Han Meng, Executive Director of Nature Elements Capital.

Both speakers shared that China was a country of opportunities, given that the country is huge and that there are many industries that one can invest in. Both pointed out that there was water shortage problem in China, especially in the north. In addition to that, it also faced problems such as pollution. 76% of China’s electricity was based on carbon fuels, contributing to the pollution problems that China is already facing. Henceforth, the government was keen to have foreign companies to invest in this area. Both Dr Ong and Mr Chan saw this as an opportunity.

Though there are plenty of opportunities in the area of Green China, Dr Ong advised the students that one should be ready and prepared before taking on the rising east, so as not to be caught in a situation of “有鱼无网”. This Chinese saying which literally means “having no fishnet to catch these fishes in the sea”, translates to one who is not equipped when opportunity rises. He shared four essential elements to build a company: product, management, stakeholders and cash. Product is the niche or value added to a service or a product that the company can offer; Management is the know-hows of the company and to network with the right people. Stakeholders are the ones that the company should collaborate with and cash refers to the capital funding of a company.

Another speaker, Mr Chan said that one should look at the resources that China can offer and based on these resources, to plan what resource is useful for the company. He also advised that when investing in a company, one should take a close look at its management.

When the floor was opened for questions, a student asked the speakers what kind of opportunities one could seek in China, and how to prepare themselves when there were open doors. Mr Chan encouraged students to go for what they liked to do, because those who pursue what they like will usually excel over others. Since China is so big, there are plenty of opportunities in every sector. Dr Ong advised students to have ample preparation by knowing their Chinese well, study the market and the four essential elements he shared earlier on.

It was a fruitful and interesting session to learn about China, especially in the area of a Green China from both speakers with a vast wealth of experience. With that, the last session of C-Quotient Campus Series came to a close.