From Deseret News archives:
GE, others bid for Olympics gold
The hefty sponsorship fee covered four Olympic Games through 2012, but GE was particularly interested in playing a role in Beijing. The Fairfield, Conn., conglomerate sees the Games as an opportunity to showcase its technology and products from water filtration to lighting and security systems in China's big, rapidly growing economy.
GE is just one of a pack of global giants some Olympic sponsors and some not hoping to tap an Olympics-related building boom to bolster business in China. Siemens AG and United Technologies Corp. also view the Olympics as a great chance to forge new relationships with key Chinese business and government figures.
"It's way beyond Beijing," says Peter van Gend, who runs the Siemens group that pursues business connected to big events such as the World Cup and the Olympics. China is investing not just "for the three weeks (of the Olympics) but also (in) long-lasting elements of infrastructure."
Non-Chinese companies face hurdles, however. Many Olympic-related projects such as sports stadiums are being built by private and state-owned enterprises, making the bidding process nearly as competitive as the Games themselves. Foreign business leaders say learning about contract opportunities is often difficult. The jobs are often advertised on obscure Web sites or in newspapers, and companies are given short notice, leaving them little time to prepare their bids.
"For European companies, it has been very tough to participate," says the European Chamber of Commerce's Gilbert Van Kerckhove. For example, he says, due to complicated Chinese regulations, it is "extremely difficult, almost impossible" for foreign construction firms to operate, even through joint ventures with local partners.
Comments
- Secret Service puts 3 on leave 10:53 a.m.
- Provo robbery report was a hoax 10:52 a.m.
- Senate casts 1st health care votes 10:51 a.m.
- Report: social science effort flawed 10:44 a.m.
- University to probe climate data 10:40 a.m.
- Bernanke: tools to reel in stimulus 10:36 a.m.
- Secret Pentagon e-mails 10:29 a.m.
- India to slow carbon emissions 10:26 a.m.
- Continental sees delays 10:23 a.m.
- AP: Karzai willing to talk to Taliban 10:15 a.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Mitchell said to share LeBaron traits
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash
- Miles is back, but others still out
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- MWC awaits bowl destinations
- Phoenix vote on temple Wednesday
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
916 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
406 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
359 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
255 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
244 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
184 - Religion in politics is tiresome
154
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
In response to the 9:41 post: No where is it taught that an individual is...
Not enough quick ball movement on offense. That is BYU's problem. They were...
re -- true conservative | 9:07 a.m ["Abortion should not be legalized,...
"The Utes can stop with their "holier than thou" attitude. It gets annoying."...
The reason why YBU's home streak was so good is because everytime someone...
My Grandmother was born and raised in Orderville, UT, where she practiced...
Thank you Jerry. We are lucky to have such a great coach. It will be sad to...
"I sincerely hope that we can learn to live with a situation in which gays...
Who in their right mind would take Byron Scott over Jerry Sloan - what has...
Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest...




You can be the first to comment on this story.