Szerzők: Martin Šebeňa, Kara Němečková, Konrad Popławski, Ágnes Szunomár, Veronika Blablová, Marcell Kovács, Benedykt Kurtyka, Filip Šebok, Richard Turcsányi

Kiadó: Central European Institute of Asian Studies

ISBN: 978-80-8239-029-5

Absztrakt

A confluence of factors is challenging the industrial structure and the long-standing business model of four Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries: Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia—collectively known as the Visegrad Four (V4). Since their transformation from command economies to free markets in the early 1990s, the automotive industry has been a backbone of their manufacturing sectors and, by extension, their economies.

Two major trends emerging in the 2020s now pose considerable challenges to the V4’s established automotive sectors: the rise of EVs and the increase in geopolitical tensions and protectionism. East Asian EV and battery producers have surpassed their European counterparts in terms of production processes and technological expertise. At the same time, geopolitical tensions, such as tariffs, transportation risks, and military conflicts, have disrupted free trade and reshaped the export pathways of the automotive industry.

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of EV and battery investments by East Asian firms from China, South Korea, and Japan across the V4 region and discusses national approaches to cooperation with East Asian investors. The authors outline how Central European countries might leverage the transition, including the investments of East Asian companies, by focusing on policies that facilitate technology transfer, increase value-added, boost workforce development, and enhance R&D in the automotive sector.

The publication is one of the results of the project “East Asian electric vehicle makers in the V4 countries’ electric vehicle transition” coordinated by CEIAS and implemented in cooperation with OSW Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland), Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic), Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary).

The project is co-financed by the governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.

A Szunomár, Á., et al.: Central Europe-East Asia EV nexus: Tracking Chinese, South Korean and Japanese electric vehicle and battery investment in the V4 countries bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Authors: Erzsébet N. Rózsa, Viktor Marsai, András Bartók

In: Li, Y., Leandro, F.J.B.S., Tavares da Silva, J., Rodrigues, C. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook on China-Europe-Africa Relations. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. pp. 849–864.

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-5640-7_41

Abstract

Whilst the European Union’s approach to its direct and farther away neighbourhood has been based on the EU’s regional perception of the world, China—reminiscent with its classical concentric circular worldview—initiates and operates its foreign relations on a bilateral basis, even if in some cases some formal regional fora do appear. These different approaches provide a specific overlap in Africa, where in the different sectors, they may clash or contribute to each other. The international multilateral fora (UN, EMP, FOCAC, etc.) add a specific element when they provide opportunities for a wider cooperation (such as anti-piracy and peacekeeping operations). In the following chapter, we explore the characteristics and the development of the EU and China’s regional approach to Africa, as well as the African understanding of regionalism. We aim to highlight similarities as well as important structural differences in the two entities’ relationships with African countries, institutions, and coalitions. Following this comparative case study-based analysis, our findings suggest that the different approaches of theEU and China have a variety of causal vectors, with a spectrum from the pragmatic to the political-cultural factors.

A N. Rózsa, E., Marsai, V., Bartók, A.: Regionalism vs Bilateralism in the EU-China-Africa Relations bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Article by Magdolna Sass on the Institute of World Economics’ blog

Over the past two decades, China’s share of the world economy’s total FDI stock has grown rapidly. While in 2000 the country’s share was negligible, by 2023 it accounted for nearly 7% of the total stock, according to UNCTAD data. This rapid growth contrasts with the stagnating share of the other BRICs and the slightly or significantly declining share of the leading developed economies (especially the US). Since 2009, China has been the „podium” country in terms of annual outward FDI inflows every year, mostly behind the US and ahead of Japan in the ranking. Nevertheless, there have been years when China has been the largest source of outward FDI in the world economy: for example, in 2014 or 2020. In 2022, China accounted for more than 10% of total annual outward FDI in the world economy, and in 2023 for more than 9.5%. Including Hong Kong, these shares are more than 17% and more than 16% respectively (UNCTAD). (Further growth is likely to continue, as outward FDI in China accounted for 16% of GDP in 2023, compared to an OECD average of 52% and even around 20% for Central and Eastern European countries.)

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A Hungary is the recent European leader in Chinese investment: but who benefits? bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Authors: Ágnes Szunomár, Tamás Peragovics, Csaba Weiner

In: Politics in Central Europe, 20(2), 271-301.

Abstract

International business research is usually focused on various aspects of foreign direct investment (FDI) by non‑European emerging‑market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) without attention to non‑traditional factors pulling them into host countries. The objective of this paper is to examine the investments of EMNEs from two source countries, China and Russia, within the Visegrad Four (V4) economies. Based on interviews and a qualitative document analysis, it explores the main characteristics of their investments into the V4, including host‑country determinants by focusing on macroeconomic, institutional and political factors. The paper finds that these factors do influence EMNEs’ investment practices, and that they correlate with the changing quality of political relations, but this influence needs to be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.

A Szunomár, Á., Peragovics, T., Weiner, Cs.: The role of institutional and political factors in attracting Chinese and Russian multinationals to the Visegrad countries bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Author: Ágnes Szunomár

In: Wu, Chien-Huei (ed.) Switching diplomatic recognition between Taiwan and China: economic and social impact, London, New York: Routledge (2024) pp. 179-195.

Introduction

The transition of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries from centrally planned to market economies in the late twentieth century transformed the region’s external economic relations. During this transition period, CEE countries went through radical economic restructuring, largely induced by foreign capital. Multinational enterprises (MNEs) realized significant investment projects and established their own production networks in the region. Investors, primarily from core European countries, were attracted by macroeconomic factors, including relatively low unit labor costs, market size, openness to trade, and proximity. Institutional factors, such as the prospects for CEE countries’ economic integration with the European Union (EU), also increased foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.

A Szunomár, Á.: Economic versus political engagement with China and Taiwan in Central and Eastern Europe bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.

Author: Ágnes Szunomár

Citation: Ágnes Szunomár, From Zero to Hero? Chinese Investment in Electric Vehicle Supply Chains in the Visegrád Four. Prague, Czech Republic: Association for International Affairs (AMO), 2024

Abstract

China has not only gained a foothold in the electric vehicle industry but has become one of the most important players globally. Accordingly, it wants to penetrate global markets, including the European one, with its own EVs, and also be close to other EV manufacturers to supply them with EV components, including batteries, via its own companies.

This paper analyzes the recent trend of Chinese investments in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chains in the Visegrád Four (V4) countries of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.

A Szunomár, Á.: From Zero to Hero? Chinese Investment in Electric Vehicle Supply Chains in the Visegrád Four bejegyzés először VGI-én jelent meg.