Haichang Ocean Park Holdings has plans to build amusement parks along China’s new silk road trade initiative: the Belt and Road initiative.
As reported in the South China Morning Post, Wang Xuguang, chief executive of Haichang said the company was in discussion with several mainland state-owned infrastructure builders to develop three to four ocean parks along China’s new silk road. Attractions will be in countries like Bangladesh and Madagascar.
He said: “As the state-owned infrastructure builders construct ports and roads along the ‘One Belt, One Road’, they also need our help to add amusement facilities to go with the megaprojects. This model fits us perfectly since we already had plans to tap the emerging markets.”
Belt and Road
The belt and road initiative was introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. It aims to improve China’s trade ties by connecting overland corridors and sea routes.
The country will build power plants, roads, ports and other infrastructure works. It represents an investment of at least 780 billion yuan (US$119 billion).
Haichang will open the 3-billion-yuan Polar Ocean Park in Shanghai’s Pudong district in August 2018. It will cover around 300,000 square metres. It will comprise four marine animal interactive programmes, three theatres and an additional 15 entertainment facilities. The park’s aim is to showcase a broad range of Arctic and Antarctic wildlife.
The potential projects along the belt and road routes will represent the company’s initial attempt to explore the global market.
Haichang’s revenue was up in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period last year – though gross profit for the period was down. The company continues to be the number one Ocean Park operator in China.
“Markets like Japan, Europe and America are not our targets,” Wang said. “Instead, we set our eyes on markets like India, central Asia and Africa.”
Image courtesy of Haichang
https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/2110087/haichang-looks-build-ocean-parks-emerging-markets
