Hello readers,
Remember me from last week’s blog?  Let me refresh your memory.  Firstly, I’m from a small town in the province of Québec and secondly I’m currently interning at the Qingdao office. With that being said, it only seems fair to dedicate this week’s blog exploring a subject relevant to what has just previously been stated.

If you keep up with the news or have always secretly wanted to be a pilot, chances are you’ve heard of the multinational company Bombardier, the world leader in plane and locomotive manufacturing. This enterprise has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a snow mobile manufacturer in a small town of Québec and has moved on to have a truly global presence. Although the company has recorded sales revenues of over 18 billion US-dollars in 2013, it’s nice to note that the corporate headquarters are still situated in Montréal, Québec.

So what’s the link between Bombardier and Qingdao you may ask? Well, for starters, it’s important to note that the largest Canadian investment in China is the Bombardier plant located in Qingdao. Yes, you read right. This plant manufactures subway and railway cars that serve all of China, including the ones for the current Chengdu metro line and the ones we will see sometime in 2015 here in Qingdao!

Bombardier started investing in China over 50 years ago answering the important need to develop and expand the transportation system. The company has since continued to solidify its ties with the ever-growing Chinese market. In regards to Qingdao, Bombardier Sifang Transportation Ltd. was established in 1998 and is one of the four joint ventures Bombardier has in China. With the second largest trading harbor, it seems only natural that such an important enterprise settle where there is a diversified economy, booming investment opportunities and quick access to the rest of China, as well as other trading partner countries.

Another fun fact is that Bombardier technology was used for the construction of the longest high-speed railway in the world, taking passengers from Guangzhou to Beijing in eight hours. Not only has this revolutionized the way people get around the country; it also shows how China is cooperating in terms of technological advancement with Canada.

In conclusion, for most people already in China or for those of you who are arriving shortly whether by train or plane, Bombardier is responsible for the wind beneath your wings and the technology that fuels the engine that gets you from point A to point B in less time than it takes to write a blog. No-maybe not that quickly, but a lot quicker than it did half a century ago!

If you too want to discover China by plane or train, all while doing an internship and gaining valuable skills, apply here!

Sources:

https://cn.bombardier.com/press_release_01112013.htm

https://cn.bombardier.com/about_bombardier_in_country.html

https://www.bombardier.com/en/about-us.html

https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/eng/canadexport/document.jsp?did=139906