China’s economic slowdown has sparked worries that its rapid rise as a source of foreign direct investment could also be slowed. Early signs this year are that the corporate sector in China remains bullish on overseas expansion and in particular is pursuing entirely new opportunities.
According to fDi Markets, an FT data service, China has assumed, for the first time, the number one position globally as a generator of greenfield capital investment on new greenfield projects.
From January through April 2016, Chinese companies made or announced 126 new greenfield investments overseas totalling an estimated $29.43bn. Companies from the US have launched far more projects (661) but spent less ($22.81bn) on them.