Denmark's export ambassador to champion clean-tech cooperation
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Xinhua, October 15, 2011
Denmark's Export Ambassador to China will champion investment and collaboration in clean-technology on a week-long visit to China starting Sunday.
Ritt Bjerregaard, who is tasked with improving Denmark's trade and investment cooperation with the world's second-biggest economy, will also showcase the advantages of doing business with Danish industry.
"I think energy and environment will be very, very high on the list of priorities," Bjerregaard said of Sino-Danish investment cooperation.
She said these sectors are also a priority for Denmark's new center-left coalition government, which came to power following general elections in September.
"It is absolutely clear to the new government that they pay a lot of attention to what we call sustainability, that is, in low-energy consumption, in renewable energies, in environment, and in waste treatment," Bjerregaard told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
Danish companies have a history of innovation and market dominance in green technologies like wind-turbines, temperature control systems, low-energy pumps, and water treatment and sanitation systems.
In fact, Bjerregaard's visit coincides with a major exhibition on wind-power.
"This week was chosen because there is a big wind exhibition and seminars, and I am going to meet with both Chinese and Danish wind industry professionals," she said.
"I understand more than 100 Danish businesspersons will be there because of the exhibition, which is the main reason for going there," she added.
Bjerregaard will also meet China's Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
"Denmark is world renowned for its very high standards of food safety, and I know that food safety is also prioritised by the Chinese government," she observed, referring to partnership in a traditionally strong Danish sector.
Bjerregaard herself has a good understanding of both environment and food safety policies as she previously served as EU Commissioner for Environment, and as a former Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
Her trip also includes meetings with officials from China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, where they will discuss urban development and energy issues.
And she will also visit the booming industrial hub of Tianjin, where many Danish businesses have established operations.
Clean-tech
Bjerregaard has hosted a number of Chinese trade delegations and companies in Denmark since being appointed Export Ambassador in June, and made her first official trip to China in August 2011. Now she is keen to open up new joint ventures.
Given that China's urban areas are developing fast, and given its commitment to meeting strict targets for energy efficiency and reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions, Bjerregaard believes district heating technology holds vast potential for Sino-Danish collaboration.
"We are trying to convince a lot of China's local governments that it would be very useful for them to learn about district heating because it is a much cheaper way to get both cooling and heating," she said.
District heating is a system for distributing heat, and often electricity, which is produced in a centralized location, and then sent to commercial and residential buildings for heating living spaces and water.
Denmark has a head start on development of this technology and is encouraging use of household waste, agricultural biomass, geo-thermal heat and other renewable energy sources to power district heating plants.
"What Denmark can compete on is a very high standard in clean-technology," Bjerregaard remarked, adding, "For many products, we could also be a very good test case."
In fact, Chinese electrical vehicle and battery-maker BYD has agreed to test full-size, electric public buses in Copenhagen, in partnership with Movia, a Danish public transport company.
On-going collaboration between China's telecommunications giant Huawei and researchers at Denmark's Aalborg University is another example, she noted.
Yet despite the head start, Danish companies could find themselves struggling to compete with Chinese and other emerging-markets firms, which already enjoy competitive advantage in manufacturing, and are rapidly becoming better innovators as well.
"I would say that it is very nice to see this development in China, from, as you say yourself, moving away from only able to manufacture, to having a very, very high standard of research and development," Bjerregaard said, reflecting on this new dynamic.
"I think this gives a lot of opportunity for China and Denmark to work together. Not by one competing with the other, but by working together and putting their forces together, so we can both be better," she explained.
Attracting investment
Denmark has appointed five export ambassadors, one each responsible for expanding trade cooperation with Brazil, Russia, China and India (BRIC), and one for other emerging markets such as Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey.
According to Denmark's Foreign Ministry, exports to BRIC countries contributed only 5 percent of Denmark's overall exports, based on 2009 data.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Danish Industry says the country's total exports could rise 14 percent by 2030, with exports to China comprising 9 percent of total exports, making it Denmark's third-largest trade partner.
Denmark's government, comprised of the Social Democratic Party, Social Liberals and Socialist People's Party, are also keen to attract foreign direct investment to boost economic growth and jobs at home.
"We have a lot of talented people at our universities, dealing with research and development. I think Chinese investors will find a lot of very capable people to work with here," Bjerregaard said.
She pointed to the country's 'flexicurity' model, which combines easy hire-and-fire policies with benefits and protection to workers, as another incentive to investors.
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