Chinese investment in Europe up 55%, says Cuatrecasas/ESADE report

Chinese investment in Europe increased by 55 per cent to €31.4 billion in 2015, according to a Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira/ESADE Business & Law School report.

The report, “Trends in Chinese Investment in Europe (2016-2017)”, also revealed that, at the end of 2015, Spain had attracted investment of €2 billion since 2010.

During the period 2010-2015, France, Germany and the United Kingdom accounted for 44.1 per cent of Chinese investment in Europe, while southern European countries (Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain) accounted for 28.3 per cent, the report – which was produced in conjunction with KPMG – said.

It added that the Chinese economy was undergoing a major transformation in its production model, which will have a significant effect on Chinese investments abroad in the coming years. “The transformation of the model will be a further incentive for more companies to invest abroad,” the report said. “One factor that is bound to have a greater positive influence on investment will be the needs arising from the transition towards a model that will bring greater contribution from sectors and activities with a higher value, knowledge and technologies, which will require the local business community to acquire these capacities.”