09/01/2014 World Business Report

have to rely on artificial alternatives.

It is now time for the latest financial news with World Business

Report. sales for the luxury carmaker is

demand surges in China and the Middle East. Plus, Japan's PM heads

to Africa. Has China already snapped up the best investment

opportunities? Hello, and welcome to World Business

Report. Also, the dying art of noodle making. More in our series on

vanishing professions. First of all, it is a fourwheeled symbol of wealth

and success, some might see XS. The cheapest model sells for over a

quarter of $1 million. More people than ever splashed out on a

Rolls-Royce next year, -- last year. Rolls-Royce delivered over 3630 cars

last year, the most in the company's 110 year history. Not

surprisingly, China played a major part, which growth of 11%. It

overtook the US last year to become the biggest market. Wealthy Arabs

who have always been loyal markets, have not given up either. I am

joined by the boss of Rolls-Royce. Thank you very much indeed for

coming in. To use a cliche, and you have been on a roll for some time.

We have seen record numbers year after year for several years now,

why is that? The main reason is a strong portfolio, desirable

products, excellent service levels, and also that we are globally very

well balanced. It is not only the eastern part of the world, China or

Asia, were also very strong in the US and the Middle East. That is

always key criteria for what I would call sustainable growth over that

time. To what extent has China played a part? We have seen a real

surge in demand for luxury goods in China in recent years. You are

right, China has grown significantly over the last years. China is now

together with the US one of the main pillars for our sales, and also the

Middle East. China is also on a percentage level something between

25 and 26% of our overall business. You may have a tough year in China,

that is argued by some people who are looking at this. Many people are

warning about the year for China, concerned about risky loans and the

effect of the credit crunch. What is your Outlook? We have seen good

growth in China in the last year, we have put some effort behind that.

The effort has been to come closer to our customers, having opened up

new dealerships in China, increasing service levels, and I think that

pays off very nicely. When you are selling product of an ultra high

level, you have to service your customers on an outstanding level.

Also, proper investment is vital, Rolls-Royce is a very good

investment. Wendy now you have reached saturation levels? -- when

do you know. You must know that there is a point at which the people

that you are going to sell two have already got one. There are people

who can spend easily a couple of million dollars a year in China, and

that is quite optimistic over the next year. You must always

considered that there are always new cities generated, with millions of

inhabitants. There is potential for the future there. We have run out of

time, we could talk for a long time on the subject. Thank you for coming

in. Thanks. Japan's PM, Shinzo Abe, begins a tour of sub-Saharan Africa

today. It is the first by a Japanese leader for eight years. He is

expected to promise $570 million in loans to Mozambique, when he stops

in the capital as part of the tool. It will also take in the Ivory Coast

and Ethiopia. It is seen as an attempt to reinforce Japanese

investment in the region. Tell us how well this trip will go

down. These countries already very happy with the Chinese investments?

I think anybody would be happy with a pledge from Japan to invest, $14

billion in aid and investment in infrastructure, renewable energy,

mining assets, any country would be happy to receive that kind of money

from Japan. As you suggest, it is a realignment of Japan's Africa

policy. To a large extent, they have been in aid donor to Africa, and now

they want an emphasis on trade, and the backdrop is China having grown

its investments in Africa fivefold. Fivefold in trade, and eightfold in

investments, are coming the largest trade and investment partner to

Africa. Africa is on a steady growth path so there is massive possibility

for growth. There is also a great market for Japanese products, cars

and electronics, and they want that captive market. Thank you very much.

We will keep an eye on that trip, with Shinzo Abe starting in

Mozambique. Other business stories, inflation in China fell to a

seven-month low to low. The annual rate was 2.6%, well below the 3.5%

target. Annual consumer price rises hit 5.4% earlier last year. They say

this gives paging room to continue growth in the biggest economy in the

world -- Beijing. Qantas has had its credit rating cut to junk status by

the agency Moody's. Qantas has been struggling at home with competition

from rival Virgin Australia. The European Central Bank is expected to

leave interest rates on hold despite a drop in inflation. This has raised

fears of a Japan style era of deflation.

Throughout this week we have been looking at vanishing professions,

jobs that are dying out with the rise of technology. Today, we go to

Taiwan to discover a centuries-old tradition practised by just a

handful of people. This family in central Taiwan is one

of only two in their village making noodles by hand. He used to be ten

families here that made noodles the traditional way. It is a trend

repeating itself throughout Taiwan. This man is a third-generation

noodle maker, he grew up watching his parents and grandparents make

noodles by hand. His long working day begins at the break of dawn, by

mixing flour, salt and water. It may seem hard to imagine, but this big

blob of go is eventually transformed into noodles that 1/10 a centimetre

thin. This machine only gets the dose so thin, the refined work will

need to be continued by hand. -- dough. These will need to be pulled

by hand, and it is not as easy as it looks. This way of making noodles is

centuries old, and is believed to be brought from China, where the

ancestors of most Taiwanese people come from. It was passed down from

one generation to another, but this man may be one of the last ones.

TRANSLATION: The money we earn is earned in a hardware. If it looks

like it is going to rain we have to take the noodles inside otherwise

all-out efforts are wasted. These noodles are made with just flour,

salt and water. They look simple, but there are hours of hard work

behind them. The family began working at 5am and won't finish

until 7pm, and there will only make about $100. After all the hard

work, the family sits down to a lunch of oysters and noodles. It is

one of the best noodle dishes I have ever had. There is no telling

whether this product of hard work and patience will survive through

the changing times. I love noodles, that has made the

very hungry. -- me. Scotland Yard chief will meet

community leaders in London today in an effort to rebuild trust after an

inquest decision that Mark Duggan was lawfully shot by police. His

death led to riots in towns and cities across England more than two