Robert T. Martin, Managing Director and Regional Executive, Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group: Doing Business in China

This interview concerns doing business in China given the rapid changes and industrial development of that country. This report is based on an interview with Robert T. Martin, Managing Director & Regional Executive of BMO Bank of Montreal in June, 2005. Recent federal government financial reform efforts in China have facilitated foreign banks' business development as part of the Chinese WTO market-opening commitment. Foreign banks' development in the Chinese market is based on client demands and product expertise. The banks are concerned about increasing competition, the ability to be sustainable long-term, and innovation through new products introduction in niche markets that are regulatory compliant. For new investors in China, potential opportunities continually occur, but reasonable expectations can only be made with regular visits to China and continuous intelligence gathering to keep abreast of the evolving dynamics.