Opportunities and challenges for international environmental engineering firms in the China market

Abstract

This report is to study the opportunities and the challenges for the international environmental engineering firms in China market. In this report, the current China environmental conditions had been studied and focus on the water resources and solid waste management. The rapid economic growth in China was accompanied with severe environmental pollution. The per capita water resource was only 2040 m3/ year in 2008, only about one-fourth of the world average of 8,549 m3/ year. In addition to water shortage, the water pollution poses a serious threat to public health and causes major economic and environmental losses. China had surpassed United State to become the world largest municipal solid waste generator in 2004. The solid waste generation rate will continue to increase as the population grows. However, the waste treatment facilities in China were not able to cope with the waste generated. This provided a good opportunity for the international environmental engineering firms. Due to the limited transparency of policy, corruption of local government, difference in culture and other reasons, the international firms may face some challenges when they enter the China market.