National City Corp has announced the establishment of National City China Advisory Service, a consultancy practice dedicated to assisting middle-market and large corporate clients with business affairs in China. This newest addition to the bank’s Global Trade & Treasury group provides financial services and foreign trade consulting services for clients entering and conducting business in the world’s fastest growing economy.

 

Alfred Ho, formerly National City vice-president and manager for Asia Pacific and executive vice-president of National City Trade Services, has been named vice-president and manager China Advisory Service to lead the practice.

 

“National City China Advisory Service is a solution for our clients “most pressing questions about operating a business in China. We have created a consultancy that has the flexibility to deliver tailored business solutions and has, in Alfred, a foremost expert on China’s political and business climates,” says Craig Schurr, senior vice-president and manager of Global Trade & Treasury at National City. “National City has long recognised that business relationships with its corporate banking clients entail more than transactional business. Helping our clients prosper in the new reality of globalisation is an important component of a business relationship. We are pleased to offer this focused, value-added consultancy to our burgeoning array of international services.”

 

To equip businesses with the expertise necessary to understand the complex Chinese economic landscape, National City China Advisory Service connects clients with pre-qualified, strategic advisors who are experts in an array of areas including supply chain management, market penetration and expansion, brand management, labour practices and patent law and international banking and treasury management. National City China Advisory Service establishes partnerships with consultancies staffed with China business specialists, so that clients can have access to those who have localised, China-specific expertise.

 

“Given the size of its workforce, consumer market and its unprecedented economic growth, China represents a dynamic opportunity for clients who wish to initiate or expand business internationally. At the same time, though, doing business in China can be daunting and many unanticipated challenges can arise. The National City China Advisory Service has deep international business expertise and established local relationships to advise clients on how to best approach the Chinese marketplace,” says Ho.

 

Conducting business in China can present clients with a complexity of issues ranging from location selection, taxes, legal and banking services and cultural business traditions and practices. National City provides a free initial consultation for clients to assess their business strategy and goals for doing business with China, then develops the appropriate strategic solution designed to maximize efficiency and simplicity.