Recently, Helen gave a seminar at Stanford University on what the Chinese middle class means for entrepreneurs. You can watch the video of Helen's lecture at Stanford Center for Professional Development. Here are a few highlights of Helen's presentation: 

• Chinese consumption will increase from US$1.7 trillion in 2009 to US$16 trillion in 2020 to become the world's largest consumer market

• Car ownership more than doubled in China, from 12% in 2004 to 28% in 2009. Car ownership is predicted to surpass 50% in urban areas by 2015

• China is now the world’s 2^nd largest market for luxury goods. Luxury sales reached $10 billion in 2009 and will reach $27 billion in 2015

• China is now the world’s 3^rd largest pharmaceutical market, which is predicted to reach $90 billion by 2014

• In 2009, China invested $35 billion in clean energy, nearly double the U.S. investment of $18 billion in this field.