FIDIC Consulting Services update

FIDIC Consulting Services (FCS)

Since its official opening in August 2020, FIDIC Consulting Services (FCS), has been doing its best to overcome the negative impacts of the pandemic in China. In particular, FCS has been performing well by completing a number of major tasks aimed at achieving FIDIC’s strategic objectives in China.

In the reporting period from September 2021 to August 2022, FCS completed the outstanding recertification work of the FCCE graduates who were certified under the pilot programme, for the successful candidates to receive their renewed certificates and their information to be updated on the FIDIC website.

In the last year, FCS held webinars on topics which covered Dispute Resolution under FIDIC Contracts, Promotion of FIDIC Certification Programmes, The World Bank’s Standard Procurement Documents and the Use of DAAB under FIDIC Contracts, Risks and Claims under FIDIC Contract Conditions, etc. More importantly, FCS will be organising the first ever FIDIC Contract Users’ (China) Conference from 17-18 October 2022, with the participation of major stakeholders who will be able to discuss the latest developments in the contract arena.

In recent months, FCS relocated to a new office space. Following this change, FCS also ensured that all the procedures relating to official administrative bodies, such as the commerce authority, the bank and the tax authority, were completed and subsequently FCS received its updated business licence.

FCS has translated more than 50 news items from the FIDIC and FCL websites and disseminated this information to the FCCEs and our stakeholders through emails and via posts on the FCS WeChat and website pages. Around 30 FCCEs registered for FIDIC’s Global Infrastructure Conference 2021 and several stakeholders participated in the webinar series and contract users’ conferences. As part of the efforts to promote the FCL certification programmes in China, FCS encouraged Chinese candidates to participate in the adjudicators’ assessment programme. FCS also answered a number of queries in relation to the certification programmes. FCS completed the annual auditing and compliance requirements for the monthly and quarterly tax reporting as required by the local authorities. In addition, two financial transactions relative to the agreed business commitments were completed following rigorous efforts. Moreover, FCS made proactive efforts to take advantage of the favourable government policies under the Covid-19 stimulus, by securing a substantial RMB120,000 tax return and RMB29,000 on the office rent. Since the publication of the translated FIDIC suite of contracts in China, FCS has sold 748 copies of the new FIDIC contracts during the reporting period.

FCS also drafted an FCCE engagement strategy and put it into action. As is tradition, New Year greetings letters were sent to CNAEC, CAPEC, CHINCA, CAIEC and CECA, additionally, a congratulatory letter was sent to CHINCA following the launch of five subcontracts and CECA’s new chairman also received a congratulatory letter. As part of its stakeholder engagement, FCS visited the five associations, as well as CIATEC, to promote the FIDIC brand and FCL’s programmes. FCS maintained monthly communication with CNAEC and regular communication with other stakeholders.

On the FIDIC side, FCS has assisted with the selection of five C-level candidates to join in the Global Leadership Forum and also assisted with the negotiation process with companies based in China wishing to obtain specialised training in FIDIC contracts for their international staff.

In 2022 and 2023, FCS will continue to expand its business operations. Notably, FCS will continue to promote the FIDIC brand and FCL programmes and assist candidates to participate in the examinations, thus further promoting the existing collaborative ties with all its stakeholders. Further seminars and the FIDIC Contract Users’ Conference will be organised in the future. In addition, FCS will of course continue to maintain compliance with Chinese laws and regulations in terms of its governance structure and business operations.