Sustainability Seen as Major Growth Opportunity for China

China has a major opportunity to innovate, influence and grow in pursuit of sustainability, DuPont Chairman and CEO Chad Holliday said Sunday at the ninth annual China Development Forum in Beijing, China.

“In 2020, sustainability will be a fact of life for all industries, all governments, and all societies around the world,” said Chad, who served as the Forum’s co-chair. “Technology will continue to shape our lives and livelihoods in ways that are both expected and unexpected. Because of the sheer size and influence of the Chinese economy, China is in a unique position to influence how these technologies will evolve and take shape.”

The country is well-positioned to innovate and adapt in a sustainable way, due largely to the speed at which it is growing and the dynamic character of its economic development, Chad said. “What will sustainability look like in China in 2020? That is China’s decision, but however China decides, the results will be felt globally.”

In 2020, the world will look to China not just as an engine for global economic growth, but as a tested leader on the world stage due to its leadership in many fields, including technology, Chad added. Global companies such as DuPont are ready to cooperate with China in the creation of sustainable offerings that will benefit China’s economic and societal growth as well as the world community.

“We have a shared goal – to grow with China in a sustainable manner,” Chad said.

DuPont’s presence in China is significant, diversified and growing rapidly. Today, the company has 38 entities in China including 19 wholly owned enterprises. Employing about 6,000 people in China, the company has been growing in the country at an average annual rate of 17 percent for the last five years. Total DuPont investment in China, to date, exceeds USD 700 million and is expected to reach USD 1.2 billion in 2010.

The China Development Forum, sponsored by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, is attended by scholars, government officials and business people with an interest in the Chinese economy. The theme of this year’s gathering is “China Toward 2020: Development Goals and Policy Options.”