Swiss management consultancy bullish on Chinese mkt

Acknowledging China's critical role in its global strategy, Swiss management consulting firm dss+, formerly known as DuPont Sustainable Solutions, will expand its business in China in the coming years, said a top company executive.

"Taking advantage of our current strengths, with a team of around 100 experts in China, we are confident that we will double our business in the next few years. The Chinese market is more than just an area of growth. It is a hub for innovation and collaboration that enhances our global capabilities," said Davide Vassallo, CEO of dss+, which became independent from US-based DuPont Group in 2019.

The company is adopting a multi-pronged approach to double its growth in China by addressing the evolving needs of key heavy industries, facilitating overseas expansion and investing in talent development.

"Today the China contribution to global dss+ is in the range of 7-8 percent. We want to double this number in the coming years because we believe that we can support Chinese companies in their international expansion," Vassallo said.

China's GDP growth of 5 percent is outstanding for any European country, Vassallo said, adding that to further tap into such a market, productivity and innovation should be given full play.

"Productivity is to release the value, and innovation is to create the value. They're two very powerful tools in this economy to continue to grow," Vassallo said, adding that their company's global nature will make dss+ a perfect partner for many Chinese enterprises.

"As China continues to promote industrialization, productivity and sustainability, companies like ours are facing tremendous opportunities," Vassallo said.

According to an IBISWorld report, with the continuous growth of the Chinese economy and increasing demand from enterprises to improve management efficiency and reduce costs, the market size of the management consulting sector is growing rapidly, providing a broad development space for management consulting firms.

The management consulting market in China is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2 percent from 2019 to 2024, reaching an estimated $39.2 billion by 2024, the report said.

"China's increasing focus on green transition aligns perfectly with our innovation strategy to create value through new services, products and solutions, and expand into new markets in China and internationally," said Vassallo.

The CEO said the dss+ China office is positioned not only to serve the local market, but also bridge China and other global markets. "This approach allows us to create synergies and leverage our global network to benefit our clients in China and globally."

For example, the company's China and Indonesia offices have been working closely together to support the development of the metals and mining industries. This partnership enables Chinese companies to gain a deeper understanding of the Indonesia market and vice versa, thereby facilitating cross-border opportunities and fostering shared learning.

Vassallo said: "The best practices and insights we gained from our experience in China have not only accelerated local growth, but have been shared across our global operations. By cultivating partnerships across regions, we are able to actively help large companies navigate the current transformation, which plays an important role locally and globally towards more sustainable and efficient practices."

Looking ahead, efforts will be made focusing on industries including chemicals, steel and manufacturing, which are undergoing transformative shifts in terms of improving productivity and enhancing sustainable growth, Vassallo said.

"We have been and will continue to work alongside these industries to help advance operational efficiency, innovate with new product mixes, enhance supply chain resilience and boost agility."