Chinese state-owned enterprises go global

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PurposeThe aim of this research is to examine the Chinese outward direct investment (ODI) from the perspectives of the Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs), focusing on their perceptions and important factors in the decision-making process. More specifically, it aims to understand where and why Chinese SOEs are investing. Increasingly integrated into the global economy, China has already become one of the largest investment economies in the world. Design/methodology/approachConducted by the China Center at Rollins College in collaboration with the Kedge Business School and the China Executive Leadership Academy at Pudong, survey data are collected from 63 Chinese SOEs that reflect the structure of Chinese industry and the membership of the China Council for the Promotion of International trade. FindingsChinese SOEs have aligned their business expansion plans with the national priority, and played a dominant role in the current internationalization drive. They will likely increase their overseas investment substantially in both short and medium terms; their key business efforts include resource extraction, trading, services and manufacturing. Whereas Chinese ODIs tend to focus on the emerging economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America, more investments begin to take place in various developed countries, and many Chinese SOEs plan to increase their ODI in the USA, regarded as the most important market for overseas investment. Originality/valueThis research contributes to a better understanding on the growing ODIs by the Chinese SOEs since the launch of the “going global” policy.