中糧掌門人寧高寧調任中化集團董事長
The man who turned China’s state-owned grain trader Cofco into an integrated agribusiness and led its overseas acquisition spree has been appointed chairman of Sinochem, the Chinese government announced yesterday.
中國政府昨日宣佈，曾將中國國有穀物交易商中糧集團(COFCO)轉型成一家綜合性農業企業、並領導該集團進行一系列海外收購的寧高寧，已被任命爲中化集團(Sinochem)董事長。
Ning Gaoning, who uses the name Frank and enjoys speaking English, oversaw the acquisition of Dutch trading company Nidera and most recently the agricultural arm of struggling Hong Kong-based energy and commodities trader Noble Group.
寧高寧使用弗蘭克(Frank)這個英文名，喜歡說英語。他曾主導對荷蘭交易企業Nidera的收購，而最近的例子則是對來寶集團(Noble Group)農業部門的收購。來寶集團是一家總部位於香港的能源和大宗商品交易商，目前陷於困境。
The deals, which gave Cofco a footprint in Southeast Asia and Latin America, were designed to put the company on a par with those that dominate the world grain trade. These include Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge and Louis Dreyfus Commodities.
這些交易爲中糧集團在東南亞和拉美留下了腳印，它們旨在令中糧集團與那些主導全球穀物交易的企業平起平坐。這些企業包括嘉吉(Cargill)、阿徹丹尼爾斯米德蘭(Archer Daniels Midland, ADM)、邦吉(Bunge)和路易達孚(Louis Dreyfus Commodities)。
In December Mr Ning celebrated his 11th year as head of China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Co, or Cofco. During that time he transformed the company from a grains importer and exporter into an integrated food and dairy business that now makes wine and fruit juice and dominates China’s soyabean crushing industry.
2015年12月，寧高寧執掌中糧集團進入第11年。在他掌舵期間，中糧從一家穀物進出口商轉型成一家綜合性食品和乳品企業。目前，中糧集團還生產葡萄酒和果汁，並主導着中國的大豆榨油產業。
Cofco’s international expansion was part of wider strategy to build national champions to compete with western multinationals as well as helping secure more grain directly, reducing China’s reliance on international traders.
中糧集團在國際上的擴張是整體戰略的一部分，目的是打造國家冠軍企業，以便和西方跨國公司競爭，並幫助中國直接獲取更多穀物，減少對國際交易商的依賴。
But expansion has not come without problems. Nidera suffered a significant loss in its biofuels business because of a rogue trader, while some analysts believe Cofco overpaid for Noble Agri.
然而，擴張的過程也不是毫無問題。Nidera曾因一名違規交易員的行爲而在生物燃料業務上遭遇大額虧損，而一些分析師認爲中糧集團爲來寶農業(Noble Agri)支付的價碼過高。
Mr Ning will also face challenges at Sinochem, the state-owned chemicals and fertiliser group, which is one of the country’s largest iron ore importers.
寧高寧在中化集團也將面臨多種挑戰。中化集團是一家國有的化工和化肥集團，也是中國最大的鐵礦石進口商之一。
“His new post at the Sinochem showcases the central government’s determination to promote China’s agricultural industry,” said Ma Wenfeng, agricultural analyst at Beijing Orient Agriculture Consultancy.
北京東方艾格農業諮詢有限公司(Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultants)的農業分析師馬文峯表示：“他在中化集團的新職位顯示出中央政府促進中國農業產業發展的決心。”
“To improve China’s agricultural production level, it will need to promote the integration of the production of seeds, fertilisers, chemicals and machines.”
“要提高中國的農業生產水平，就必須加強種子、化肥、化學品和機械生產的整合。”
Mr Ma said Mr Ning was expected to oversee aggressive international and domestic mergers and acquisitions.
馬文峯表示，預計寧高寧將在國際和國內領導一輪大刀闊斧的併購。
