The internationalization of Chinese companies and their presence in Europe

China's outward foreign direct investment (FDI) has skyrocketed in the last decade, causing ripples in the economy of every region in the world. One of the regions where this growth has been felt most is the European Union, where Chinese stock investment practically quadrupled in the course of just two years, rising from USD 768 million in 2005 to USD 2.942 billion in 2007. Three years later, this figure quadrupled once again (USD 12.496 billion in 2010). According to official Chinese data from 2014 (MOFCOM), there are currently 2,000 Chinese companies established in the EU, with a total investment of USD 40.097 billion, so China accounts for four of every ten dollars invested in developed countries. Consequently, almost the entire stock of Chinese direct investment in Europe has flowed in very recently, during the years of economic crisis. From China¿s perspective, Europe is a key destination in the context of the international expansion of its companies.