Chinese business 'team' among the World Cup stars

Despite the absence of a Chinese team at the ongoing soccer World Cup, another group of players is indeed competing in the international gala - in business.

Among the stars is Shenzhen-based Longwei, which is authorized to make the official football designed by sporting goods giant Adidas. Adidas also named it the football producer for the 2010 World Cup.

Since last year when it received the first order for the 2014 ball - known as the Brazuca football - the company generated nearly 1.5 billion yuan ($240.9 million) in sales in seven months, China National Radio reports.

While Longwei makes products carrying other brands, Hangcheng Industry Co in Hangzhou, Zhejiang is the first Chinese company directly authorized by FIFA as a manufacturer of World Cup mascot items.

The company is the only non-Brazilian licensee to make Fuleco mascot fluffy toys and dolls worldwide. Its authorization also covers key chains, party products and car decorations.

"We have the rights for development, pricing and sales," Huang Kunlun, sales director of the company, told China Economic Net, adding that Hangcheng has received orders from 39 countries and regions, with the fluffy toy range the best seller.

Pricing rights enabled it to generate profits twice to three times higher than usual, he noted, though he declined to reveal specifics because of a confidentiality agreement with FIFA.

In addition to traditional makers of small commodities, photovoltaic equipment manufacturer Yingli Energy once again signed on as a sponsor following its first World Cup deal in 2010. The company is the only Chinese sponsor this year.

It provided 27 photovoltaic systems for stadiums and installed solar energy charging stations in media centers at six stadiums.

Maracana Stadium that will host the World Cup final is equipped with more than 1,500 solar panels and other components provided by Yingli, which will "not only help facilitate the football game but also leave 'sunlight wealth' in Brazil", said Wang Zhixin, spokesman of the company.

Liang Tian, assistant president of Yingli, told Chinese media that standing among multinational giants as a sponsor represents the company's competitiveness.

Before the sponsorship, Yingli's products were sold in nine countries. Now they are exported to more than 50 countries and regions, according to the company.

The status as a World Cup provider or sponsor helps access international markets and increases the value of "made-in-China", said China National Radio observer Kong Jie.

Since 2009, China has been Brazil's largest trade partner. Deals with companies in Guangdong alone totaled $8.6 billion in 2012, accounting for one-tenth of trade between the two countries.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn