BrazilOCO Global expands to China with launch of Shanghai office
International trade and investment advisory OCO Global has launched a new office in Shanghai – stating confidence in the local economy despite the current conditions.
Following a temporary hold during the COVID-19 crisis, leading international trade and investment consultancy OCO Global has now launched a new office in Shanghai, with the new outlet joining an existing regional branch in Tokyo and network spanning Europe, the Americas, and Middle East. It support the new enterprise, OCO has partnered with locally headquartered market entry specialist Aventura.
Established by current CEO and former PwC principal consultant Mark O’Connell in 2001, OCO Global offers a range of services in support of foreign direct investment, from strategy, lead generation and research through to incubation, marketing and funding & ventures. An adviser to the UK’s Department of International Trade, the Belfast-headquartered firm also includes PwC and Ernst & Young amongst its roster of high-profile clients.
OCO’s latest international expansion is aimed at supporting both regional and overseas enterprises with inbound and outbound investment, with O’Connell stating the launch of its first office in China as symbolic of its confidence in local economy – especially in light of the government’s announcement last week that it would for the first time be scrapping its annual growth target due to the impact of the global pandemic.
“Our investment plans were put on temporary hold during the current crisis, but we are fully convinced of the long-term prospects of China as both a source and as a destination of FDI, and the opportunities it presents for international trade,” said O’Connell. “Our commitment to this expansion and our great local team demonstrates the region’s importance. We are very excited to open our new office in Shanghai and establish a partnership with Aventura.”
Expanding further, the OCO CEO noted China’s post-COVID-19 commitment for continued integration with the global economy and increased market access for international firms as a great opportunity for growth, along with the country’s next five-year plan which encourages Chinese companies to internationalise and pursue global expansion. The firm also pointed to a ~25 percent growth per annum in Chinese FDI over the past ten years.
To bolster its new offering, OCO has strategically teamed up in a partnership with Shanghai-based market entry and expansion specialist Aventura, combining what it says is OCO’s FDI & Trade expertise and international reach with Aventura’s local Chinese market know-how and access. With further offices in Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City, Aventura offers a full suite of market entry and expansion services covering all functional needs.
“We look forward to leveraging OCO’s 20-plus years of experience in advising the world’s leading economies on international expansion and FDI services,” said Aventura CEO Gustav Astrom. “Coupled with Aventura’s local capabilities and long standing experience in the Chinese market, we have the expertise to help private companies and public agencies form long-term business relationships in the Chinese and the wider Asian economy.”
