China plans to loosen restrictions on qualified domestic
institutional investor (QDII) investment targets so that they can
invest in new sectors, said Li Dongrong, vice director of the State
Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) on Thursday.
Li made the remarks at the 2007 China Derivatives Summit. He
said that together with the China Banking Regulatory Commission and
the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, SAFE is mulling over the
selection of potentially profitable new sectors.
The SAFE is also considering including securities companies in
the QDII system.
QDIIs are currently allowed to invest only in fixed-return
financial products.
China's QDII program is still in its infancy and the products
are not selling well because of the narrow investment scope, high
risks, low profits and poor accessibility, he said.
Furthermore, investors -- both companies and individuals --
would rather hold Renminbi than convert them into foreign currency
because the yuan keeps on appreciating.
China launched the QDII system in July 2006, allowing QDIIs to
raise Renminbi funds from domestic individuals and institutions and
buy foreign currency from the SAFE for overseas investment.
So far, 30 financial institutions -- 11 domestic banks, seven
foreign banks, 11 insurance companies and one mutual fund -- have
been granted QDII status.
(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2007)