中國內地信用卡發(fā)行量去年翻倍
今日將發(fā)布的一份報告顯示，過去一年，中國的信用卡發(fā)行量增長了逾一倍，中國正在形成信用卡文化。
The number of credit cards in circulation in China has more than doubled over the past year to more than 40m as a credit culture begins to take shape in the country, according to a report released today.
咨詢公司麥肯錫(McKinsey)發(fā)布的報告顯示，中國內地的信用卡普及率仍然遠低于臺灣和香港等可比地區(qū)，從而為信用卡行業(yè)留下了巨大的發(fā)展?jié)摿Α５?013年，該行業(yè)利潤將達130億元人民幣(合17.3億美元)。
Penetration rates remain well below those in comparable societies like Taiwan and Hong Kong, leaving huge potential for an industry that should provide Rmb13bn ($1.73bn) in profits by 2013, according to the report from McKinsey, the consultancy.
不過，跨國銀行仍然被禁止在中國內地發(fā)行信用卡，而中國國內銀行的信用卡業(yè)務也仍未實現盈利。
But international banks re- main barred from issuing credit cards in China and the card business is still unprofitable for domestic banks.
該行業(yè)的增長潛力加大了中國政府的壓力，迫使其出臺外資銀行期待已久的規(guī)定，允許它們在中國內地發(fā)行信用卡，從而兌現中國在加入世貿組織(WTO)時做出的在2006年底之前向外資提供“國民待遇”的承諾。
The sector’s growing potential increases pressure on Beijing to implement long-awaited rules allowing foreign banks to issue cards, in keeping with its World Trade Organisation accession commitment to provide “national treatment” by the end of 2006.
分析師表示，中國政府正在保護內地銀行在這個初生行業(yè)中的利益，但預計很快就將向匯豐銀行(HSBC)和花旗銀行(Citibank)等外國銀行業(yè)集團開放市場準入。目前，這些外資銀行僅獲準與中國內地合作伙伴發(fā)行聯名信用卡。
Analysts say the government is protecting domestic banks in the fledgling sector but is soon expected to open it to foreign banking groups such as HSBC and Citibank, which are now only allowed to offer co-branded cards with domestic partners.
過去數年，中國政府一直鼓勵發(fā)展消費信用行業(yè)，以促進私人消費，同時平衡中國嚴重依賴固定資產投資的快速經濟增長。
For the last few years Beijing has encouraged the creation of a consumer credit industry to promote private consumption and rebalance China’s rapid economic growth, which relies heavily on fixed asset investment.
報告估計，過去4年，中國內地真正意義上信用卡的數量每年都實現了翻番，截至今年年中達到4300萬張左右。
The report estimates the num- ber of true credit cards in China doubled for each of the last four years to reach about 43m by the middle of this year.
隨著必需的支付基礎設施在全國迅速擴張，中國消費者使用信用卡購買商品和服務的數量正迅速上升。
As the necessary payment infrastructure expands rapidly across the country, Chinese consumers are using credit cards to pay for an increasing array of goods and services.
