On March 24, 2022, 10:00am – 11:30am EDT, the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) hosted the first event in the “Navigating China’s 14th FYP by Sector” series, in partnership with the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network. This five-part series was designed to strengthen the ability of Canadian businesses to assess risks and opportunities with regards to China’s 14^th Five Year Plan (FYP) to improve Canadian competitiveness in the China market. The Consumer & Retail Goods sector session was presented by Alfredo Montufar-Helu, Beijing Director of the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network.

The link to the video presentation is available upon request. Please contact your regional Chapter Director to request access:

• Atlantic: Edward Dai
• Quebec: Philippe Jeanneau
• Ontario: Jeff Zhang
• Prairies/Nunavut/NWT: Philippe Jeanneau
• BC/Yukon: Philippe Jeanneau
• Beijing: Noah Fraser
• Shanghai: Edward Dai

Mr. Montufar-Helu presented the key trends and developments impacting the Chinese business landscape over the 14^th FYP period, with a particular focus on implications on for Canadian firms. China has outperformed other major economies, reported strong economic metrics, and remains an attractive investment destination for multinational corporations. External threats, however, still exist and will create challenges for stakeholders operating in this space.

There is a strong connection between consumption and China’s economic growth. Tertiary industry – itself driven by private consumption – provided a roughly 55% contribution of China’s 2021 GDP growth. With a China’s consumption power estimated to increase (as disposable incomes rise across the country) and the 14^th FYP “comprehensively” promoting consumption, several key trends will dominate the sector in the years to come.

Firms should look to take advantage of opportunities presented by China’s drive for “common prosperity,” appeal to younger (and value conscious) consumers, and target growing consumption centres outside of the traditional hotbeds. Broadly, China will continue to present opportunities for foreign companies, but there are new risks which must be taken into consideration moving forward.

Registration was $25+HST for CCBC members, $50+HST for non-members. Simultaneous French interpretation was available for each session.

CCBC thanks CanExport Associations for partial funding support for this program.

Consumer & Retail Goods Sponsors:

About the speaker:

Alfredo Montufar-Helu
Beijing Director
Economist Intelligence Corporate Network

Mr. Montufar-Helu works for the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, the C-suite briefing and networking arm of The Economist Group, and oversees its operations in Beijing. Based in China since 2013, Mr. Montufar-Helu has focused on analyzing the business implications of policy, economic and political developments for companies investing and operating in China, and in the broader Asian region, with the aim of distilling complex issues and conveying clear takeaways on how to capture business opportunities and respond to emerging challenges.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Montufar-Helu was Associate Director for KPMG’s Global China Practice, where he led and contributed to numerous thought leadership projects, including flagship reports, customized business briefings, and policy proposals for Chinese authorities. He also played a large role in events programming and outreach, including leading the design and coordination of high-profile events aimed at senior executives. Prior to that, Mr. Montufar-Helu worked for J Capital Research, Eurasia Group and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Montufar-Helu has a Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) from Georgetown University, and a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Mexico’s Center of Research and Teaching in Economics (a.k.a. CIDE).