China as export world champion and tomorrow’s leading high-tech industrial country with still comparatively low raw material and labour costs offers itself as a versatile location for most companies, especially in the areas of machine parts and electronics. While some parts of the industry like for example the textile industry have been moving to even cheaper countries, in China the heyday for more sophisticated products is currently just beginning.
When purchasing in China considerable price differences compared to the sourcing in western countries arise. However, since China is a relatively confusing and diverse country due to its economic as well as geographic dimensions, where also many barriers of the linguistic, cultural and bureaucratic kind are existing, companies interested but not experienced in doing business with China should not attempt to take the step into the “Middle Kingdom” without professional guidance.