News Brief
China-Nordic Arctic Research Center set up in Shanghai
T
en research institutions from Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark,
and China signed in December an agreement to boost mutual arctic research cooperation in Arctic research. Together, they have established the
China-Nordic Arctic Research Center in Shanghai. The center is focused on the
sustainable exploitation of the abundant resources of the region as the ice melts.
The center will organize research on chosen topics, host seminars, offer scholarship and allowance to researchers and promote exchanges and information sharing between China and Nordic countries, but the focus in on international cooperation on climate change, resources, shipping, economic cooperation, as well as
policy and legislative issues in the Arctic.
The center is an expansion of a previous cooperation mechanism between
China and Iceland only.
Carlsberg buys Chongqing Beer Group
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anish brewer Carlsberg has bought the eight Chinese breweries for
US$258 million as it grows outside the sluggish markets of western Europe. Chongqing Beer Group which owns the eight breweries accepted
Carlsberg’s offer to acquire 100 percent of its assets.
“This transaction follows on from our decision to construct two new breweries in China and Myanmar and further reinforces our commitment to Asia, and in
particular to China,” CEO Joergen Buhl Rasmussen said.
Carlsberg has been expanding in the fast-growing Asian market along with its
three bigger rivals - AB InBev, SABMiller and Heineken.
The Carlsberg Foundation, the group’s main owner, said in October that it
wants to change its charter so that it no longer has to own over 25 percent of any
subsidiary, while continuing to hold at least 51 percent of the voting rights. The
move would enable Carlsberg to make acquisitions without its main owner tying
up more capital in the group to maintain the size of its shareholding.
Saab’s revival hinges on electric cars, China market
A
year out of bankruptcy and with just two cars a day rolling off its production
line, Saab is betting on an as yet unbuilt electric version of a decade old car
to bring the iconic Swedish marque back from the death.
Saab’s new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), is targeting its home
market of China, where the government is promoting clean automotive technology
with up to 100 billion yuan ($16 billion) in vehicle subsidies, R&D and infrastructure
spending, according to research firm Frost & Sullivan.
However, the battery version of Saab’s 9-3 model will be up against the likes of
BMW , VW and Ford in one of the most competitive industries in the world.
Norway’s salmon export value soars despite weak China’s demand
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espite sizable decline in salmon exports to China, which dropped by 5,000
tonnes, overall export value totalled NOK39.8 billon (USD6.4 million) in
2013, or a 35 per cent up on the previous year — due to reduced production and record prices, according to Norwegian Seafood Council.saumon2
“A reduction in salmon production in Norway combined with a strong increase
in demand has resulted in higher prices for Norwegian salmon,” says Paul Aandahl,
manager salmon and trout with the Norwegian Seafood Council.
The volume of exports of Norwegian salmon in 2013 totalled 960,000 tonnes,
down by 3.5 percent compared to 2012.
Export prices for fresh whole Norwegian salmon during the course of the year
have varied between NOK 33.45 per kg in September and NOK 48 in December.
The average price for the year was NOK 39.74 per kg. This was NOK 12.11 or 44
percent more than in 2012 and is the highest since 1988.
6 ScandAsia.China • February 2014