Case | HBS Case Collection | 2011 (Revised from original 2010 version)

International Agribusiness in China: Charoen Pokphand Group

by William C. Kirby, Michael Shih-ta Chen, Tracy Manty and Yi Kwan Chu

Abstract

The world's leading Thai agribusiness corporation and largest agribusiness investor in China, CP Group, is facing another crossroads in China as the country starts to undergo rural reform. The issues at hand for Chairman Dhanin Chearavanont is how CP can balance its place as a key investor in China's burgeoning agriculture market with its unstated obligation to also provide guidance and expertise in food safety, technology, as well as jobs for rural farmers while still competing against the growing cadre of international and domestic companies vying to grab share from its operations in China. Was rural reform going to help or hinder CP's position in China and was CP doing all it could to take advantage of these changes?

Keywords: Business or Company Management; SWOT Analysis; Adaptation; Business Strategy; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Growth and Development Strategy; Competitive Strategy; Problems and Challenges; Rural Scope; Agribusiness; Change; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry; China;

Format: Print

30 pages

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Citation:

Kirby, William C., Michael Shih-ta Chen, Tracy Manty, and Yi Kwan Chu. "International Agribusiness in China: Charoen Pokphand Group." Harvard Business School Case 910-418, November 2011. (Revised from original February 2010 version.)

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