CIMA announces Chengdu will host the CIMA GBC in August 2011. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

SHANGHAI - The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the world's leading professional body of management accountants, has announced that Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province, will host the global final competition of the CIMA Global Business Challenge (GBC) in August 2011.

The announcement was made by CIMA Executive Director Andrew Harding in Shanghai on November 19 in conjunction with the 2010 CIMA annual awards which were issued to five winners, including GE, Volvo Finance, DHL, QQ.Com and Qingdao WABCO Vehicle.

Chengdu vice Mayor Fu Yonglin said the contest will provide a good opportunity for the teams to take a closer look at what Chengdu can offer them.

"We hope this contest will create a platform of new wisdom for all the participants to exchange communications, expand co-operation and promote friendship," Fu said.

The CIMA GBC, which is being held in partnership with Barclays, is an international business management competition designed to bring out the best in potential business leaders among young people, said Harding.

He said the competition is open to undergraduates of public and private colleges and universities ideally from a business or finance background.

"The international competition provides students with a great opportunity to test the depth of their financial knowledge, try out their business management skills and expand upon their competitive ability," Harding said.

"It will even lead to internship opportunities from well-known organizations."

He said teams will be expected to analyze, report and present on a CIMA case study. The winning team from each of 17 competing regions will win the chance to compete in the global final in Chengdu.

Harding said CIMA is committed to giving ambitious people rewarding careers in respected businesses. Its 172,000 members and students in 168 countries are a testament to the global accessibility and credibility of the CIMA brand.

"The GBC exists to inspire young people to test their skills against the best in the world," he said.