Bird flu damages business - Shaun Rein

Shaun Rein

Maybe the recent bird flu was not as bad as SARS ten years ago, but the fear for a pandemic has certainly damaged business in China, tells business analyst Shaun Rein in NPR's Marketplace. 

+NPR's Marketplace:

+Shaun Rein, with the China Market Research Group who lives in Shanghai, says it's becoming common for businessmen to cancel meetings in the area. 

"I've had a lot of meeting that were canceled in Shanghai -- people decided to have them in Europe instead or just delay because of the fears," Rein says. "Nobody's really sure how the Avian flu is transmitted, so there are a lot of fears going on in China." 

Rein says these fears are causing more and more businessmen -- both Chinese and expats -- to wonder if the cost of doing business is worth it. "The China head of a Fortune 500 firm, [whose] firm is making about 30 percent of their overall revenue in China [is] thinking about leaving," says Rein. "He loves the business challenges, he loves the compensation, but it's really affecting the quality of life for his family." 

Rein adds that wealthy Chinese businessmen are also buying homes stateside because of the same concerns.

More in NPR's Marketplace.

Shaun Rein is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.

China +China Weekly Hangout 
Pollution is one other reason business is under attack in China. The China Weekly Hangout discussed January 24 with  +Richard Brubaker of AllRoadsLeadtoChina and CEIBS the rampant pollution in China. Is it getting worse, and what can be done? Moderator: +Fons Tuinstra  of the China Speakers Bureau.

 
On Thursday 30 May the China Weekly Hangout will turn to tourism and will ask “What do Chinese tourists want?”. Participation from the UK, Singapore, Switzerland and New Zealand is already planned. You can read our latest announcement here, or register for participation here. A full overview of our hangout-channel is here.