Gaining Perspective on the New Global Market Landscape and Exploring New Directions for Chinese Enterprises Going Global
In the context of profound adjustments in the global economic landscape and iterative upgrading of the globalization process, the overseas expansion of Chinese enterprises has become an irreversible trend.
In 2024, facing the complex international environment and increasingly fierce global market competition, Chinese enterprises, in the process of going abroad, have encountered not only rare strategic opportunities but also numerous challenges.
To comprehensively explore the current status and trends of overseas market development, and analyze the success experiences and pain points of going-global enterprises, the GGF2024 Shanghai and Overseas Insight Forum, organized by EqualOcean, will be held on December 19 in Shanghai.
Over the past few years, the global trade landscape has experienced intense turbulence.
The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, supply chain crises, inflation, and a series of other factors have combined to rewrite the traditional logic of globalization.
However, within this "uncertainty," there are also "certainty" opportunities. In 2024, the global trade volume is expected to grow by more than 3%, with particularly outstanding performance in the Asia-Pacific region and emerging economies.
This trend clearly shows that the focus of the global economy is gradually shifting from developed markets to emerging markets, and the role of Chinese enterprises in global trade is becoming increasingly important.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Commerce, in the first half of 2024, China's total outward direct investment reached 606.07 billion yuan, a 16.1% year-on-year increase, covering 152 countries and regions worldwide.
These figures not only demonstrate the strong resilience of Chinese enterprises in overseas expansion but also reflect the urgent need for Chinese enterprises to accelerate their international market layout and actively participate in global competition under the wave of globalization.
However, the complexity of the international trade environment also presents numerous challenges for Chinese enterprises going global.
The fluctuation of China-U.S. relations has heightened uncertainty in the North American market, while the European market imposes stricter environmental regulations and policy barriers on enterprises.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and other emerging markets, where cultural and commercial practices differ significantly, building effective localization strategies has become a pressing issue for enterprises.
Transformation of Overseas Expansion Strategy: From Scale-Driven to Quality-Driven Development
In recent years, the methods used by Chinese enterprises to go global have undergone profound changes.
The development strategy has shifted from a traditional “scale-driven” model to a “high-quality development” strategy.
Chinese enterprises not only hope to expand sales in overseas markets but also aim to shape a global brand image, export innovative technology and management concepts, and achieve an industrial value chain leap.
Global Hotspot Market Analysis: Opportunities and Challenges Coexist
Japan and South Korea：As powerhouses in consumer electronics and high-end manufacturing, Japan and South Korea offer excellent opportunities for Chinese enterprises.For instance, some Chinese enterprises adopt technological cooperation and joint R&D with Japanese and Korean enterprises to jointly explore new fields such as new energy vehicle (NEV) batteries and smart home solutions.
Southeast Asia：The rapid growth of the Southeast Asian market has drawn global investors' attention. However, with the intensification of competition, this market has shifted from a “blue ocean” to a “red ocean.” For Chinese enterprises, how to seize opportunities in the fields of digital economy, cross-border e-commerce, and financial technology (fintech) through supply chain coordination, technological innovation, and product optimization will determine their success or failure in the Southeast Asian market.
Middle East：The Middle East is ushering in a critical window for industrial restructuring and upgrading. For instance, Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" initiative has opened significant cooperation opportunities in green energy and infrastructure construction. Chinese enterprises with expertise in renewable energy, digital technology, and large-scale infrastructure projects are well-positioned to seize these opportunities.
Africa: Africa, with its young population and improving digital infrastructure, has become an essential target for Chinese enterprises aiming to explore cross-border e-commerce, digital finance, and infrastructure investment. The region's demographic advantage, combined with an improving business environment, provides fertile ground for long-term growth and strategic opportunities for Chinese companies.
Latin America: As a key part of emerging markets, Latin America is gaining attention due to its rapidly growing internet economy and its high proportion of young consumers. Countries like Brazil and Mexico have become key targets for Chinese cross-border e-commerce companies. These firms are focusing on these areas to tap into the region's growing digital economy, which is rapidly evolving.
Overseas Insight Forum: A Gathering of Industry Leaders, Corporate Executives, and Academic Experts: The Overseas Insight Forum will bring together industry leaders, corporate executives, and academic experts to conduct in-depth discussions on the challenges and opportunities for Chinese enterprises in global markets. This forum will feature keynote speeches, industry report releases, and multiple roundtable discussions, with a specific focus on key regions such as Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Agenda of the Forum: Release of the 2024 Overseas Regional Country Report. This report will provide companies with authoritative reference materials for global strategy layout. Keynote Speeches: Experts and industry leaders will deliver insightful speeches on topics such as market entry strategies and key global opportunities.
Roundtable Discussions:
Industry experts from various regions will engage in discussions on the following themes:
Japan and South Korea: Exploring pathways for success in high-tech and manufacturing sectors.
Middle East: Opportunities for cooperation in Middle Eastern economies.
Southeast Asia: Navigating the transition from “blue ocean” to “red ocean.”
Latin America: Exploring opportunities beyond Mexico and the booming e-commerce market in Brazil.
Africa: Tapping into the potential of a youthful, digitally-enabled continent.
Join Us at the 2024 Overseas Insight Forum!
To support the exploration of new global markets, the forum will also release the 2024 Country Report on Overseas Expansion, providing companies with reliable reference materials for their globalization strategies.
EqualOcean sincerely invites all entrepreneurs, investors, and academics interested in globalization to join the forum.
Let us explore new opportunities in the international market and contribute to the globalization of Chinese enterprises.
"Overseas Insight Forum" is a parallel forum of GGF2024 Shanghai.
The forum will provide attendees with in-depth analysis of global market conditions, challenges, and opportunities.
Key event highlights include industry reports, keynote speeches, and roundtable discussions on key regions such as Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The GGF2024 Shanghai forum is expected to attract over 3,500 participants, with 75% of attendees at the executive level or above. EqualOcean will collaborate with industry leaders, investors, and academic representatives to create this extraordinary event for "overseas players" focused on globalization.