Core Points - The eighth round of the UK-Switzerland free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations took place from October 20 to 24, 2023, in Switzerland, reaching an agreement on the competition chapter [1] - Switzerland ranks as the UK's tenth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade expected to exceed £45 billion in 2024 [1] - UK service exports to Switzerland are over £18 billion, making Switzerland the UK's sixth largest service export market [1] Trade Agreement Details - The core focus of the upgraded FTA is on service trade, with trade in financial, consulting, legal, and transportation sectors amounting to approximately £28 billion [1] - In 2020, the bilateral service trade created around 130,000 jobs in the UK [1] - The UK government believes that the upgraded FTA will promote economic growth, support UK businesses, create job opportunities, and enhance the welfare of UK citizens [1] Future Negotiations - The ninth round of negotiations is expected to take place in early 2026 in the UK [1]

Core Insights - Accenture's CEO announced a significant workforce reduction, with over 10,000 employees laid off in three months due to the inability to adapt to AI skills [1] - The rise of generative AI is reshaping the skill requirements in industries traditionally reliant on human labor, such as consulting and advertising [1][2] - Major companies like Nestlé and Procter & Gamble are also cutting jobs, indicating a broader trend across consumer brands [2] Group 1: Impact on Industries - The consulting and advertising sectors are experiencing the most significant job cuts, as AI begins to take over core tasks previously performed by humans [2] - The advertising industry is particularly affected, with many companies reducing middle and junior creative roles due to the efficiency brought by generative AI [4] - AI Agents are becoming essential infrastructure in advertising, leading to reduced creative support needs and fewer jobs in the supply chain [4] Group 2: Job Restructuring and AI Integration - The automation of processes in programmatic advertising has shielded it from the job cuts seen in other areas, as these processes were already moving towards automation [5] - Job cuts are not merely about replacing humans but reflect a strategic restructuring to integrate AI into workflows, enhancing efficiency [6][9] - Companies are transitioning roles from traditional execution to AI collaboration and oversight, indicating a shift in job functions rather than outright replacement [10][12] Group 3: Future Trends and Organizational Changes - The trend of layoffs is not one-sided; companies like Microsoft are also considering rehiring for AI-driven roles, suggesting a dynamic adjustment in workforce needs [10] - The advertising industry is moving towards a decentralized model where individual roles will emphasize cross-functional skills and AI collaboration [12][14] - The ongoing adjustments in workforce structure highlight the need for companies to balance efficiency with strategic decision-making capabilities [14]

Core Insights - Multinational companies exhibit strong confidence in China's economic growth, with over 50% of surveyed firms optimistic about growth by 2025, increasing to 64% in the next three to five years [1] - China is advancing industrial upgrades and increasing research and innovation, which strengthens its path towards high-quality development despite global economic uncertainties [1] - Confidence in revenue growth for the next three to five years is notably high, with 67% of multinational companies expressing moderate confidence, aligning with China's recent economic optimism [1] Group 1 - The Chinese market is viewed as mature yet rapidly growing, with a growth rate of around 5%, making it unique compared to other large-scale markets [2] - Multinational companies are focusing on investing in their R&D teams to compete with local technology teams and keep pace with China's development [2] - Companies are encouraged to concentrate on their core competencies rather than directly competing with local rivals, especially in areas like digitalization and AI [2] Group 2 - The ongoing higher-level opening up of China allows companies to export high-tech and high-quality products overseas [2] - KPMG emphasizes the importance of localized understanding and insights for multinational companies to make informed investment decisions in China [2] - KPMG's participation in the China International Import Expo reflects its commitment to contributing to China's economic development and fostering innovation in the industrial ecosystem [2]

在第八届中国国际进口博览会（CIIE）上，毕马威中国云服务主管合伙人倪志建发表主题演讲：《运营服务：赋能高效创新，共创卓越增长》。倪志建分 享了毕马威正在加速布局运营服务。这是毕马威未来几年的重点发展方向之一。目前，毕马威在中国及亚太地区拥有近万名专业运营服务人员，覆盖 AI、数据、云、网络安全、应用软件技术支持、风险与合规等关键领域。毕马威正持续投入资源与技术，建设交付团队和智能化平台，为客户提供从战 略落地到持续运营的一体化服务。未来，运营服务将在毕马威咨询业务中占据约30%的比重。这不仅是一项业务规划，更代表我们对客户长期价值的承 诺。 我们正经历着从信息化、数字化，迈向智能化的时代。过去，企业往往将运营视为"支持职能"，以成本为导向；而今天，领先企业正在将运营服务嵌入战 略核心，通过"结果导向+智能化交付"，实现运营与战略的同频共振。 毕马威调研显示： 这意味着——运营服务不再是"成本优化工具"，而是"战略执行能力"。 过去，我们用流程去追求效率；今天，企业开始用智能去追求效能。AI赋能、大数据决策、云计算与自动化协同，不再只是技术名词，而是企业重塑增 长的"新运营架构"。在新的竞争环境中，真正领先的 ...

Core Insights - The report from KPMG highlights a significant rebound in short-term growth expectations for the Chinese economy among business leaders, with 88% of CEOs expressing confidence in the economy over the next three years, a 17 percentage point increase from the previous year, marking a recent high [1] Group 1: Economic Confidence - Business leaders' confidence in the long-term Chinese economy is supported by five core conditions: a vast domestic market that provides ample space for consumption and industrial upgrades [1] - A complete and flexible industrial system and infrastructure that supports innovation-driven development and strengthens supply chain resilience [1] - The continuous release of the engineer dividend and the full activation of entrepreneurial spirit, providing talent and motivation for technological innovation and new productive forces [1] - The advancement of a unified national market and high-level opening-up, which breaks down institutional barriers and stimulates the vitality of various market entities [1] - An increasingly improved macro-control system and an expanding policy toolbox that promotes domestic demand recovery, supports technological innovation, and facilitates green development [1] Group 2: Leadership Requirements - The complex and changing global business environment has highlighted the need for diversified leadership capabilities, with nearly all surveyed CEOs acknowledging changes in their professional requirements [2] - Leaders are now required to build a multidimensional capability system that encompasses long-term strategic planning, short-term adaptability, digital literacy, compliance insight, and organizational collaboration effectiveness [2]

Core Insights - The China International Import Expo (CIIE) serves as a significant platform for showcasing quality products and advanced technologies, while also facilitating dialogue among participants about the opportunities presented during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period [1] Group 1: Market Opportunities - Multinational companies are leveraging the CIIE to expand their brand influence, with many expressing optimism about the long-term prospects of the Chinese consumer market during the "14th Five-Year Plan" [2] - The CEO of Thai Tencel Group highlighted that the company has invested 4.36 billion yuan in China over the past five years, enhancing its local operations and aligning its strategy with China's development goals [2] - The growing middle-income group in China is driving demand for high-quality products, prompting companies like Bunge to focus on providing diverse and reliable solutions to meet market needs [3] Group 2: Foreign Investment and Cooperation - The CIIE has facilitated numerous agreements between Chinese and foreign enterprises, with a notable signing amount of 1.828 billion USD during the event [5] - KPMG emphasized that China's commitment to high-level opening-up will create new advantages for attracting foreign investment, ensuring a transparent and stable environment for foreign businesses [4] - The China Energy Engineering Group has actively participated in international capacity cooperation, signing contracts exceeding 600 billion yuan in Belt and Road Initiative countries over the past five years [5] Group 3: High-Quality Development - The "14th Five-Year Plan" emphasizes high-quality development, with companies like Johnson Controls showcasing green technologies and digital applications that align with China's goals for sustainable development [7] - Rockwell Automation plans to apply digital and green technologies in emerging industries, supporting high-quality development in sectors such as new energy and advanced manufacturing [8] - Varian Medical is committed to enhancing healthcare services in China, focusing on technological innovation to improve medical capabilities and outcomes during the "14th Five-Year Plan" [8]

Core Points - The "Hong Kong Professional Listing and Outbound Service Alliance" was launched to provide comprehensive support for Chinese companies going public and expanding internationally [1][2] - The alliance aims to address challenges faced by Chinese enterprises in the Hong Kong listing process, such as long cycles, high costs, and information barriers [1] - Hong Kong is positioned as a "super connector" between China and the world, leveraging its unique advantages to facilitate the globalization of Chinese enterprises [1][2] Group 1 - The alliance integrates financial, legal, and consulting resources to create a full-service system for companies [1] - The Hong Kong International Import Expo is highlighted as a significant platform for observing China's high-level openness and as a means for Chinese companies to access global markets [1] - The establishment of the alliance is seen as a practical step to empower internationalization efforts for enterprises, utilizing the advantages of Hong Kong's representative office in Shanghai [1] Group 2 - The forum, hosted by the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, is part of the 2025 Import Expo Shanghai conference activities [2] - Representatives from government, professional institutions, and well-known enterprises discussed new opportunities for companies to expand internationally [2] - Chinese innovative technology companies are recognized for their inherent global outlook, with Hong Kong serving as an international innovation center providing comprehensive support for their outbound strategies [2]

深圳商报·读创客户端首席记者 王海荣 正在上海举行的第八届中国国际进口博览会以"新时代，共享未来"为主题，吸引了海内外众多客商参会。11月7日，毕马 威在进博会上对外发布《2025年中国首席执行官展望》报告（以下简称"报告"），深入呈现中国企业管理者对新时期经济 和企业增长前景的最新研判，以及在企业战略调整方面的独特见解。 中国经济韧性和活力被受访者看好 与此同时，人工智能带来的行业变革预期愈发升温，已成为企业"不进则退"的战略必选项。毕马威中国经济研究院院长蔡 伟表示，人工智能和大数据等新兴技术正在重塑就业市场和技能需求格局，为了应对人工智能转型给员工队伍带来的颠覆 性影响，企业需要形成短期与长期相结合的系统化人力资源解决方案。短期来看，企业的核心策略在于为转型营造平稳的 内部环境，管理变革预期，凝聚转型共识。长期来看，企业人力资源战略的重点在于打造适应未来趋势的人才梯队，构建 新型组织架构。 调查同时显示，在政策一以贯之的支持下，中国企业家们对将环境、社会与治理（ESG）的投资态度更加主动积极。越来 越多的企业认识到，ESG投资不仅仅是一项必要的合规成本，更是企业价值增长的重要引擎。人工智能正在演变为企业 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant increase in layoffs in the U.S. corporate sector, driven by the adoption of AI technologies, with a notable impact on white-collar jobs [2][5][6]. Group 1: Layoff Statistics - In the first nine months of 2025, U.S. companies announced approximately 946,426 layoffs, a 55% increase compared to the same period last year [2][4]. - Major companies like Microsoft and Amazon have announced substantial layoffs, with Microsoft cutting 15,000 jobs and Amazon 14,000 jobs [5][7]. - The layoffs have reached the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the overall economy and unemployment statistics not showing significant deterioration [2][5]. Group 2: Reasons for Layoffs - The primary reason cited for layoffs is "market and economic conditions," accounting for 20% of the total [4]. - Sectors particularly affected include retail and logistics, with layoffs in these areas increasing threefold and twofold, respectively, compared to last year [4]. - Although only 4% of companies directly attribute layoffs to AI, many are leveraging AI as a justification for workforce reductions [5][6]. Group 3: Impact of AI on Employment - AI is increasingly seen as a rationale for layoffs, with companies like Accenture and PwC announcing significant job cuts while also investing in employee retraining related to AI [5][6]. - Amazon's CEO indicated that as AI improves efficiency, the workforce will continue to shrink, although he later attempted to clarify that AI was not the immediate cause of current layoffs [7]. - The trend of layoffs is viewed as a strategic move by companies to capitalize on the current moment to implement AI-driven efficiency improvements [6][7].

Core Insights - The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and Hongqiao International Economic Forum opened on November 5, showcasing KPMG's theme of "Smarter, More Forward-looking" and the release of the "2025 China CEO Outlook" report [1][2] - KPMG's participation includes multiple industry research reports and discussions on trends in sectors such as healthcare, retail, and hospitality, aimed at providing insights for businesses to seize market opportunities [1][2] Group 1 - KPMG will release the "2025 China CEO Outlook" report during the CIIE, along with other influential research findings [2] - A report on multinational CEOs' confidence in China, titled "KPMG 2025 Outlook for Multinational Companies in China," will also be presented [2] - In the energy and technology sectors, KPMG will unveil a report on the application of AI technology in the hydrogen energy field, analyzing its potential across various scenarios [2] Group 2 - The launch of the inaugural "Health and Wellness 50" project aims to build a comprehensive health and wellness industry chain, covering areas such as elderly finance, health technology, and home care [2] - KPMG's research outputs are designed to provide cutting-edge data support and trend analysis for various industries, facilitating precise decision-making and optimization of business strategies in a complex economic environment [2]