MOFCOM Department of Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation introduced China’s outward investment and cooperation in January-August 2019.

In January-August 2019, Chinese domestic investors made non-financial direct investment in 4659 overseas enterprises in 159 countries and regions, with an accumulative investment amount of 493.09 billion yuan, up 2.7% year on year. In January-August 2019, the turnover of the accomplished contractual projects overseas amounted to 621.49 billion yuan, up 0.9% year on year. The total contractual value of the newly-signed projects was 882.75 billion yuan. The number of all kinds of laborers dispatched overseas for cooperation projects reached 325,000, increasing by 16,000 over the same period of last year. At the end of August, the number of all kinds of laborers overseas was 999,000, increasing by 5,000 over the same period of last year.

In January-August, the outward investment and cooperation maintained steady and orderly development, mainly presenting the following features:

First, investment and cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road routes were actively advanced. In January-August, Chinese enterprises made additional investment of US$8.97 billion in 53 countries along the Belt and Road routes, accounting for 12.4% of the total amount of the same period. The contractual value of the newly-signed projects in the countries along the Belt and Road routes was US$77.77 billion, accounting for 60.1% of the total value of the same period; the turnover of the accomplished projects was US$ 49.91 billion, taking up 54.8% of the total amount of the same period.

Second, the structure of outward investment continued to be diversified and the irrational investment was effectively curbed. In January-August, outward investment mainly flew to leasing and commercial service industry, manufacturing industry and wholesale and retail industry, taking up 30.9%, 17.8% and 10.8% respectively. The outward direct investment flowing to the manufacturing industry and the wholesale and retail industry increased by 5% and 13.1% year on year respectively. There was no new outward investment project in the real estate industry, and the sports and entertainment industry.

Third, there were many big contractual projects overseas, mainly in infrastructure construction, driving local development and realizing mutual benefits and win-win results. In January-August, there were 468 new outward contractual projects, reaching the contractual value of over US$50 million, increasing by 6 over the same period of last year and accounting for 82.8% of the total value of the newly signed contracts. Among the outward contracted projects undertaken by Chinese enterprises, the contractual value of infrastructure construction projects was US$110 billion, accounting for 85.1% of the total value of the newly signed contracts. By the end of August, China’s outward project enterprises have created 813,000 jobs for project countries.

In January-August, the relevant departments handled 3467 newly established and M&A outward investment enterprises, and China’s contractual investment reached US$70.6 billion. Among these, there were 3454 newly established and M&A non-financial outward investment enterprises, and China’s contractual investment reached US$69.35 billion. There were 13 newly established and M&A financial outward investment enterprises and China’s contractual investment reached US$1.25 billion. The relevant departments handled 850 capital increasing outward investment enterprises, and China’s contractual investment reached US$19.18 billion. Among these, there were 840 capital increasing non-financial outward investment enterprises, and China’s contractual investment reached US$17.38 billion. There were 10 capital increasing financial outward investment enterprises, and China’s contractual investment reached US$1.8 billion.