最近，中國輕工業(yè)聯(lián)合會和中國陶瓷工業(yè)協(xié)會將“中國瓷都”稱號頒發(fā)給廣東潮州，而被稱作瓷都有幾個世紀的江西景德鎮(zhèn)卻丟掉了瓷都的頭銜。
景德鎮(zhèn)瓷器聞名中外已有1700多年歷史。在中國人眼里，“瓷都”就是景德鎮(zhèn)的代名詞。
景德鎮(zhèn)的失敗也許有多種原因。比如，被選為“瓷都”的潮州已發(fā)展成為中國最大的陶瓷生產基地，去年產值達117億元，而景德鎮(zhèn)只有20億元。
然而，這種評比應全面考慮參評者的質量。近幾年這類評比被各種行業(yè)協(xié)會濫用，不僅僅是陶瓷協(xié)會。行業(yè)協(xié)會應該轉變職能，停止有損其信譽或權威的評比。
眾所周知，在這類評比中，參評者要向相關行業(yè)協(xié)會交一筆費用。獲勝對企業(yè)和地方有某種廣告效應。因此，有的參評者使用不公平手段，如行賄，去贏得頭銜。
另一方面，行業(yè)協(xié)會也想得到更多資金。由于多數(shù)評比不透明，勝負難料。但這種交易影響評比結果的公平，誤導消費者，損害他們的利益。
行業(yè)協(xié)會的主要職能是在政府和企業(yè)之間起橋梁作用，為企業(yè)提供服務，如進行調查研究，維護市場秩序，保護企業(yè)利益。
中國行業(yè)協(xié)會還處在初級階段，需要完善他們的角色。他們應當對評比熱降溫，把主要精力用于幫助企業(yè)發(fā)展。
Industrial Associations Need to Define Role
(China Daily 07/27/2004 page6)- A recent "appraisal" by the China Light Industry Association and China Ceramic Industrial Association identified Chaozhou of South China's Guangdong Province as the nation's "porcelain capital."
In contrast, Jingdezhen, in East China's Jiangxi Province, which for centuries has been called the "porcelain capital," lost that title in six similar "appraisals" and seemed to be forgotten this time around.
Famous for porcelain production at home and abroad, Jingdezhen has crafted porcelain products for more than 1,700 years. In Chinese eyes, "porcelain capital" is simply another name for Jingdezhen.
Reasons may vary for Jingdezhen's consecutive failures.
For example, the "porcelain capital"-elect, Chaozhou, has developed into the nation's largest porcelain production base, with an annual business turnover of 11.7 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) last year, while Jingdezhen only reached 2 billion yuan (US$241 million) over the same period.
However, such an appraisal should consider competitors' qualities in an all-around way.
In recent years, such appraisals have been rampant and abused by industrial associations, not just in the sector of porcelain production. Industrial associations should shift their functions and cease such evaluations, which do nothing to enhance their credibility or authority.
It is known that in these appraisals, competitors pay certain fees to the relevant industrial association. Winning such appraisals is important for enterprises and locals as a kind of effective advertisement. In this way, some participants have tried unfair means, like bribery, to win the titles.
On the other hand, the industrial associations also like to get more funds for themselves. Since most appraisals are not carried out in a transparent way, the possibility for "trade-offs" is great.
But such trading influences the fairness of results and can ultimately mislead consumers and hurt their interests.
The main function of an industrial association is to serve as a bridge between the government and enterprises. It should provide services to enterprises, such as carrying on research and study, maintaining market orders, and uniting enterprises to protect their interests.
China's industrial associations are still in their infancy and need to grow into fulfilling their role. They should cool their mania for running appraisals and devote more energy to helping enterprises develop.
