英国首相：我们欢迎中国客商来英投资

    英国首相戴维•卡梅伦说，外国企业投资和收购英国品牌并不让他觉得难堪；事实上，他认为英国的开放政策使它成为经商的好地方。

    “不久前我对中国投资有限责任公司（China Investment Corporation，简称：中投）的人说，‘对于你们公司持有英国最大水务公司10%的股份或是持有希斯罗机场（Heathrow Airport）的大笔股权，我并不觉得没面子。相反，我认为这很大好事，’”卡梅伦上周赴纽约参加一个国际发展峰会及其他活动时这样告诉时代（Time Inc.）的编辑团队。【时代公司是《财富》（Fortune）杂志的母公司。】

    卡梅伦在英国国内面临严峻的政治挑战。他所属党内的极右分子质疑他的保守党资历，同时还反对英国继续留在欧盟。（卡梅伦倾向于继续让英国留在欧盟）。请登录时代网站Time.com（需要订阅）查看更多关于卡梅伦豪赌欧洲（Cameron's European Gamble）的相关内容。

    问及英国打算如何努力改善商业环境时，卡梅伦提出，在英国开展业务的企业将获得一系列优惠条件，从较低的公司税率到鼓励医药公司在英国建立生产基地不一而足。但他似乎对鼓励外商投资最为热衷。

    中投是中国的主权财富基金，此前收购了英国公共事业控股公司Kemble Water近9%的股权。同时，它也拥有英国最大的机场希斯罗机场的10%股权。

    “我对此很自豪，我觉得这非常好，”卡梅伦宣称。“我们希望英国能成为中国投资者的目的地。请转告中国其他投资商来伦敦投资。”

    据经济合作与发展组织（OECD）统计，英国2013年以来已获得外商投资金额约630亿美元，仅次于中国（2,530亿美元）、美国（1,750亿美元）和巴西（650亿美元）。但OECD同时称，英国2012年也出现高达720亿美元的资本外流。

    卡梅伦指出，外商投资推动了英国汽车业的复兴。印度塔塔集团（Tata Group）的子公司塔塔汽车（Tata Motors）曾于2002年从福特汽车公司（Ford Motor Co.）手中收购了捷豹（Jaguar）和路虎（Land Rover）品牌。近年来捷豹和路虎品牌几经转手，但卡梅伦表示，塔塔企业集团和它的荣退主席拉丹•塔塔为英国汽车出口做出了贡献。

    “‘如果你来伦敦，随时欢迎来唐宁街，和我喝杯茶，聊聊英国的经济形势以及你如何打算进一步扩大塔塔在英国的业务。’这是我亲口对拉丹•塔塔说过的话，完全不觉得有什么难堪的。”（财富中文网）

    译者：默默

    U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron says he's "not embarrassed" that foreign companies are investing in and acquiring British brands; indeed, he thinks Britain's open door policy makes it a good place for businesses to operate.

    "I said to the Chinese Investment Corporation the other day, 'I'm not embarrassed you own 10% of our biggest water company or a big chunk of Heathrow Airport. I think its absolutely great,'" Cameron told a group of Time Inc. editors in New York last week. He was in the city for, among other things, an international development summit. (Time Inc. is Fortune's parent.)

    Cameron faces major political challenges at home. The far right of his own party questions his conservative credentials and opposes Britain's continued membership in the European Union. (Cameron favors remaining part of the E.U.) For more see Cameron's European Gamble on Time.com (subscription required).

    In response to a question about efforts to make Britain business friendly, Cameron offered a wide ranging list of benefits to businesses operating in the U.K, from a low corporate tax rate to incentives for pharmaceutical companies setting up manufacturing in Britain. But he seemed most passionate about his efforts to encourage investment from outsiders.

    The China Investment Corporation, the nation's sovereign wealth fund, acquired a nearly 9% stake Kemble Water, a utility holding company. It also owns a 10% stake in the U.K.'s largest airport.

    "I'm proud of it, I think it's absolutely great," Cameron declared. "We want to be the destination for Chinese investment. Tell the other Chinese investors to come to London and spend your money."

    According to the OECD, the U.K. received some $63 billion in outside investments in 2013. Only China ($253 billion), the U.S. ($175 billion) and Brazil ($65 billion) received more. But the U.K. also recorded $72 billion in outflows in 2012, the OECD says.

    Cameron noted that outside investment had helped revive Britain's auto industry. Tata Motors (TTM), a subsidiary of India's Tata Group, acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co. (F) in 2002. The Jaguar and Land Rover brands have changed hands over the years but Cameron credits the Tata conglomerate and its chairman emeritus, Ratan Tata, with bolstering U.K. car exports.

    "Far from being embarrassed I say personally to Ratan Tata, 'Every time you come to London feel free to come through the door of Downing Street, come have a cup of tea with me and let's talk about the British economy and how you can expand into even more of it.'"