Companies allowed to issue B&R bonds

(Source: China Daily) China's securities regulator said on Friday that it will allow domestic and overseas companies to issue bonds in the onshore stock exchanges to finance projects related with the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges will carry out the pilot B&R bond program. Government-backed institutions in economies participating in the B&R initiative can also sell bonds in China, according to the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC.

"The CSRC will continue to push the opening-up of the bond market at the country's stock exchanges, and facilitate international cooperation and financing under the B&R initiative," CSRC spokeswoman Gao Li said at a news conference in Beijing.

The move is the latest effort of China to further open its capital markets and to boost investment and financing for regional infrastructure development under the B&R initiative.

Seven domestic and overseas companies have gained the regulatory approval to issue B&R bonds worth a total of 50 billion yuan ($7.9 billion) and four of them have already raised 3.5 billion yuan through their bond issuances, according to the CSRC.

Last March, Russian aluminum producer UC Rusal issued renminbi-denominated bonds worth 1 billion yuan at the Shanghai Stock Exchange, becoming the first company from an economy involved in the B&R initiative to sell bonds in China.

In January, Chinese cement producer Hongshi Group raised 300 million yuan through its bond offering at the Shanghai Stock Exchange to fund its projects in Laos. The group was the first Chinese company to issue B&R bonds at the stock exchange, according to the CSRC.

Fang Xinghai, vice-chairman of the CSRC, earlier said that the regulator will encourage good-quality companies to float shares and issue bonds in the Chinese capital market and will work to ensure the financing for projects under the B&R initiative. The regulator will take advantage of both onshore and offshore markets to support domestic and international companies' financing activities for the development of the B&R initiative, Fang said.

Join us at Belt and Road Initiative Investment Forum in Washington DC on March 14, 2018, register at http://amcenterbeltroad.org

Will removing term limits in China’s Communist party increase immigration?

President Xi and China’s communist party is planning to change its constitution to remove term limits. The recent announcement has made a lot of Chinese worried about the future of the country. The search of "immigration" on Chinese search engine Baidu.com has increased dramatically after the announcement. The Chinese government is now restricting search data for “immigration” to be public due to the influx of interest. We believe if President Xi plans to stay in power long-term, there will be a higher percentage of Chinese looking to emigrate in the next few years, as citizens are concerned about the direction of the country.

One Belt, One Road Policy to affect Global Trade

In 2014, China established the $40 billion Silk Road Fund to finance their One Belt, One Road initiative and they have made investments in several key projects since its inception to put total costs closer to $1 trillion.  According to McKinsey & Company, more than 60 countries and 200 enterprises, with a combined GDP of $21 trillion, have expressed interest in participating in the One Belt, One Road action plan. The Belt and Road Initiative will provide businesses across the world the opportunity to compete and transform the global economy. China plans to transform global infrastructure with this 21^st century ambitious initiative.

There is a lot of hope for the Belt and Road Initiative across Asia and also some skeptics about the true intent of the plan. The Hoover Institution at Stanford University proclaims “The One Belt, One Road initiative certainly has the potential to enhance Beijing’s political influence while hopefully (from China’s  perspective) reducing concerns that Beijing will employ such greater influence in threatening ways.” The One Belt, One Road policy is drawing attention across the globe and we will look to discuss in detail the challenges and opportunities in Washington DC on March 14^th.

Join us at the Belt and Road Initiative Investment Forum in DC.
 Sign up here!

The one day "Belt and Road Initiative" Investment Form in Washington DC jointly hosted by Artisan Business Group and American Center for the Belt and Road Initiative provides an overview of China's global economic development and investment strategy. The forum will provide useful insights for the Belt and Road Initiative and opportunities for US business and industrial sectors as the Initiative approaches Latin America and North America.

Miami investors score EB-5 funding for charter school in south Miami-Dade

(The Real Deal) Investors Mario and Ramon Castellanos just scored $5.5 million in EB-5 funding to build a charter school in south Miami-Dade, property records show. The Miami-based investors paid $469,000 for the 3-acre property at 12400 Hainlin Mill Drive in March. Records show the charter school chain AcadeMir, managed by Superior Charter Schools Services, will be leasing the property. The charter school manager has at least four other schools operating under the AcadeMir name in Miami, according to its website.

The lender, EB-5 Charter School Phase 37 LP, is an affiliate of the Jupiter-based EB-5 investment facilitator, GreenAccess. A representative of GreenAccess was not immediately available to comment. The planned K-8 charter school will accommodate up to 650 students, according to GreenAccess’ website. The school is slated to open in August, in time for the new school year. It sits just south of 216th Street on the west side of South Dixie Highway, near Southland Mall.

The lender has also worked with MG3 Development Group to build a 153,000-square-foot charter school near Delray Beach. Under the EB-5 program, foreign investors (as well as their immediate family members) can invest $500,000 in a job-producing project in exchange for an immigration visa. The U.S. government only issues about 10,000 new EB-5 visas per year.

Discover new opportunities with Belt and Road Forum

March 14, 2018 Washington DC

This one day "Belt and Road Initiative" Investment Form in Washington DC jointly hosted by Artisan Business Group and American Center for the Belt and Road Initiative provides an overview of China's global economic development and investment strategy "The Belt and Road Initiative" initiated by President Xi Jinping, the topics range from background, opportunities and challenges for US companies, and outlook, etc. It provides useful insights and outlook of the Belt and Road Initiative and opportunities for US business and industrial sectors as the Initiative will approach markets of Latin America and North America.

Featured Guests: 

• Mr. Zhao Zhenge, General Representative, China Council for the Promotional of International Trade
• Mr. Luis Fortuno, Former Governor of Puerto Rico
• Dr. Wanfa Zhang, Political Scientist 
• Mr. Xiaoli Hu, Jiangsu Maritime Institute (China)
• Mr. Jonathan Lim, President, JLA Holding Co. (Singapore) and more...

Program:

• Introduction and Background of the Belt and Road Initiative
• American Perspectives and Strategic Outlook
• Belt and Road Initiative with International Blockchain Infrastructure
• Opportunities and Challenges for US Industrial Sectors
• Opportunities for US Infrastructure Improvements
• Leveraging International Platform for Cooperation
• The Next Steps for US Companies to Access BRI Partners and Opportunities
  
  Email: artisanbusiness@yahoo.com
  Register at  https://beltroad.eventbrite.com

China Reins in Investors With New Rules

(Source: Radio Free Asia) After clamping down on outbound investment last year, China's government appears to be tightening its vise even further in 2018.

In recent months, China's planning, financial and regulatory agencies have issued a slew of warnings, threatening to curb overseas investment with new guidelines, restrictive categories and reviews.

Last month, the government added to the roster of discouraging measures with a 36-point "code of conduct" for outbound direct investment (ODI).

The vaguely-worded rules require enterprises to invest "in line with their own conditions and abilities." But the provisions carry a pointed message for those seen as violators of the government's investment policies. Read more at https://www.rfa.org/

会议邀请： 美中一带一路投资论坛

美国雅商顾问公司携手美国一带一路研究中心将于2018年3月14日在美国首都华盛顿特朗普国际酒店举办美国第一场“美中一带一路投资论坛”，届时来自美国国会、共和党、智库、商界的精英、中资企业驻美代表将与来自中国的嘉宾们共同交流探讨“一带一路“给美中两国在全球经济中带来的机遇与挑战。讨论嘉宾来自中国国际贸易促进委员会，江苏海事职业技术学院“一带一路“应用型海事人才研究院、美国全国共和党委员会等。特邀美国知名国际政治学者、美中问题与地缘政治家张万发博士诠释中国一带一路战略为美中两国关系带来的机遇与挑战。

美国一带一路研究中心是一个在美国正式注册的美中关系智库组织。旨在研究“一带一路“战略框架下的美中两国经济发展、机遇和挑战，并推动美国主流政坛及其商界对中国“一带一路“政策与发展的了解。

有意参加2018年一带一路投资论坛的朋友，请直接联系美国一带一路研究中心，网站：http://www.AmCenterBeltRoad.org  中国参会者请联系电子信箱：mailbox@AmCenterBeltRoad.org

China-US cross-border payment solutions become available

Need to set up China-US cross-border payment solutions for your business? US and Canada based companies such as legal firms, consultancies, accounting services, hotels, travel services, hotels and restaurants now can accept cross-border Chinese payments. The solution provides conveniences for Chinese clients to pay services fees and charges.  Welcome EB-5 stakeholders to utilize this new tool. Please contact us at mailbox@artisanbusinessgroup.com for details.