Chinese companies prone to bribery

Chinese companies are among the most willing in the world to pay bribes in developing countries, according to a report issued by the global anti-corruption organisation, Transparency International. Only Russia came out worse in the study of 21 countries and Taiwan was in 19th place. The survey was compiled from the responses of 835 senior executives of domestic and foreign companies in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe.

The company said that Russia and China, which are increasingly exporting to other emerging market countries, are using bribes on an exceptional and intolerable scale. ‘The authorities in these countries need to do more to prevent bribery by their firms abroad,’ said the report.

Fredrik Galtung, TI’s head of research, said Chinese companies were particularly aggressive in the payment of bribes to customs officials and labour inspectors. He said the main offenders were medium-sized organisations operating in sectors such as clothing manufacture in Africa.