Business Opportunities in China: The impact of the WTO

Key points covered in this report:

> The development of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry and its current status

> Changes in the industry on China's accession to the WTO

> The competitiveness of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry in the international market

> The R&D and business opportunities for pharmaceutical firms considering alliances in China

> Significant points for consideration for companies looking to capture business opportunities in China.

This report discusses the state of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry and the opportunities available to companies doing business in China, and is aimed at individuals in business development and technology transfer looking to expand into China. China is one of the largest pharmaceuticals-producing countries in the world, and as it joins the World Trade Organization (WTO), it will need to integrate more completely into the global economy. This international competition will place an intense pressure on the Chinese pharmaceutical industry, and further open the door to a lucrative market for non-Chinese companies, especially for pharmaceutical producers and manufacturers.

This second edition, updated with new figures and tables based on Chinese official statistics, provides an overview of the development of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry and its current status, and a discussion of the competitiveness of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry in the international market. The report also provides an analysis of the business opportunities for pharmaceutical firms considering alliances in China, based on this research and the commitments made by Chinese authorities at the time of accession to the WTO, and concludes by highlighting the significant points for consideration for companies looking to capture such business opportunities in China.

The appendices include two case studies that explore examples of a 'Sino-foreign equity joint venture' and a 'Wholly foreign-owned company' in China, references, a glossary of terms, the source data used in the figures, and a resources section.

This report is suitable to individuals responsible for and interested in:

> Board and executive management

> Business development

> Licensing/partnering

> Deal making

> Business strategy

Case studies:

> Sino-Swed Pharmaceutical Corp. LTD (SSPC)

> Pfizer (China) Pharmaceuticals Limited

China has established a pharmaceutical industry structure, and has become one of the largest pharmaceuticals-producing countries in the world. As China joins the World Trade Organization (WTO), it will need to integrate more completely into the global economy. This international competition will place an intense pressure on the Chinese pharmaceutical industry, and further open the door to a lucrative market for non-Chinese companies, especially for pharmaceutical producers and manufacturers. Accession to the WTO will bind China by fundamental WTO principles, such as improved transparency and the strengthening of commercial legal procedures. China’s WTO commitments include the tightening of rules on intellectual property, tariff concessions, and market access of non-Chinese service suppliers engaging in the distribution of pharmaceuticals. All such moves will create additional business opportunities for non-Chinese pharmaceutical companies in China, and in turn, place an intense pressure on the Chinese pharmaceutical industry.

This report will discuss the state of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry and the opportunities available to companies doing business in China, based on Chinese official statistics. Section 2 provides an overview of the development of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry, and its current status. Section 3 discusses the competitiveness of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry in the international market. Section 4 provides an analysis of the business opportunities for pharmaceutical firms considering alliances in China, based on this research and the commitments made by Chinese authorities at the time of accession to the WTO. The report concludes (section 5) by highlighting the significant points for consideration for companies looking to capture such business opportunities in China. The appendices (section 6) include two case studies that explore examples of a ‘Sino-foreign equity joint venture’ and a ‘Wholly foreign-owned company’ in China, references, a glossary of terms, the source data used in the figures, and a resources section.

Forewords by Xiaogang Wang (CMIC Co. Ltd., Japan) and Professor Xiaoming Wu (Chancellor, China Pharmaceutical University

Foreword to the first edition - Xiaogang Wang, CMIC Co.Ltd., Japan

Foreword to the first edition - Professor Xiaoming Wu, Chancellor, China Pharmaceutical University

1. Introduction

2. An overview of the pharmaceutical industry in China

2.1. Economic reform and the open door policy in context

2.2. The growth of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry

2.3. The structure of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry

2.3.1. Industry output

2.3.2. Import and export

2.3.3. The industry layout

2.4. R&D in China

2.5. Marketing approvals and manufacturing

2.6. Non-Chinese investment enterprises in China

3. Competing in the international market

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Measuring trading competitiveness

3.3. Potential trading competitiveness

4. Business opportunities for non-Chinese pharmaceutical firms in China

4.1. Factors affecting business opportunities in China

4.1.1. Chinese Authorities' commitments and administrative measures

4.1.2. Chinese consumer demand for pharmaceutical products

4.2. The factors bringing business opportunities

4.3. How to capture business opportunities

4.4. Which would be the profitable fields for non-Chinese pharmaceutical firms?

5. Conclusion

6. Appendices

6.1. Case studies

6.1.1. Sino-Swed Pharmaceutical Corp. LTD (SSPC)

6.1.2. Pfizer (China) Pharmaceuticals Limited

6.2. References

6.3. Glossary

6.4. Source data

6.5. Resources

6.6. Biography

6.6.1. Wu Yifeng BSc

Figure 2.1 The output of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry

Table 2.1 Value of the Chinese pharmaceutical industry in 2003

Figure 2.2 Sub-sector revenue value as % of total

Figure 2.3 Output value growth rate and net asset profit rate

Figure 2.4 Pharmaceutical import and export

Figure 2.5 Pharmaceutical enterprises in China

Figure 2.6 Companies with in-house R&D

Figure 2.7 Companies’ commitment to R&D

Figure 3.1 International trading competitive indices for pharmaceuticals

Figure 3.2 Price indices of chemical raw materials for pharmaceuticals for pharmaceuticals

Table 3.1 Analysis of number of patent applications related to medicine between 1990 and 2000

Figure 3.3 Patent applications

Figure 3.4 Percentage of patent applications granted for non-Chinese applicants

Figure 4.1 Chinese population and growth rate

Figure 4.2 Chinese urban population and growth rate

Figure 4.3 Chinese population demographics

Author: Wu Yifeng, China Pharmaceutical University

Publish date: March 2006

Publisher: Bridgehead International

Format(s): PDF

No. pages: 28 pages

Price: $795
Price: $795.00 / GBP397.50