EU-China SME Partnership Week 2012: A Complete Success

The EU-China SME Partnership Week 2012 (referred to as The Week), co-hosted by Global Alliance of SMEs (GASME), Zhejiang SME Administration, United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO), Deutsch-Chinesische Wirtschaftsvereinigung e.V., Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft, Unternehmerverband Deutschlands e.V., French Association of Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises, China International Cooperation Association of SMEs, China Association of International Trade and Shanghai Entrepreneur Association, was held in Austria, Germany and France from June 24 to July 1.


In order to implement SME Global EZPath Program in an all-round way, EU-China SME Partnership Week 2012 was thus held to promote Chinese SMEs to advance and expand cooperation with European enterprises,137 Chinese governmental officials and entrepreneurs came to Europe for this major event, and among them 98 are from Zhejiang Province while others are from Shanghai, Shangdong, Jiangsu , Beijing, Jiangxi, Anhui, Liaoning and Chongqing .


The Week is one of such exchanges for international cooperation and inter alia,between Chinese and European SMEs this year, and is another essential international activity after the successful implementation of SME Global EZPath Program by GASME. The Week drew great attention from relevant governmental organizations from the UN, China, Germany and France. Over 50 top governmental or group officials attended relevant activities, including Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of UNIDO, Mr. Carlos Magariños, Honorary Global Chairman of GASME, Mr. Raul Diez Canseco Terry, former Vice President of Peru, Juan Scharetti, former Governor of Cördoba, Province of Argentina, Ambassador Cheng Jingye, Chief Representative of P. R. China to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, Mr. Carl Dieter Spranger, Honorary Vice Chairman of GASME & former Minister of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Minister Counselor Wang Shichun, Deputy Representative of P. R. China to UNIDO, Mr. Gao Yingzhong, Director-General of Zhejiang SME Administration, Mr. He Weiwen, Vice Chairman of GASME, Mr. Ma Jun, Vice Chairman of China International Cooperation Association of SMEs, Mr. Sawar Hobom, Director, Organizational Strategy and Coordination Group at the Office of the Director General of UNIDO, Mr. Tidiane Boye, Industrial Development Officer of Investment Promotion Unit, Investment and Technology Promotion Branch of UNIDO, Mr. Michael Korwisi, Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Bad Humburg v. d. H., Dr. Rettig, Stadtverordneter der Stadt Frankfurt a. M., Prof. Dr. Gerd Schwandner, Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Oldenburg, Mr. Rainer Gehnen, Geschäftsführer der DCW, Mr. Barbara Bonrath-Kaster, Leiterin für Außenwirtschaft Bundesverband mittelständischer Wirtschaft, Unternehmerverband Deutschlands e.V., Mr. Jean-Claude Lamagnere, 1er Adjoint au Maire, Ville de Bussy Saint-Georges, Mr. Jean-Yves Cavallini, Adjoint au Maire, Ville de Levallois, Mr. Renaud Juillot-Corail, Conseiller du Commerce Exterieur de la France, Mr. Jin-Sheng Lue, Asienbeauftrageter des Deutschen Städtetages, Frank Cao, China Secretary-General of GASME and so on.


EU-China SME Partnership Week 2012 included various practical commercial activities. The four main activities are as follows:


Activity One: China SME Global Development Forum. This was held at UNIDO Austria Center on June 25, moderated by Mr. He Weiwen, Vice Chairman of GASME. Over 200 top UNIDO officials, EU officials and entrepreneurs, as well as Chinese government officials and entrepreneurs attended the forum. Keynote speakers include Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, Director-General of the UNIDO, Mr. Carlos Magariños, Global Chairman of GASME, Ambassador Cheng Jingye, Chief Representative of P. R. China to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, Mr. Carl Dieter Spranger, Honorary Vice Chairman of GASME & Former Minister of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Developmen, Mr. Gao Yingzhong, Director General of Zhejiang SME Administration, Mr. Ma Jun, Vice Chairman of China International Cooperation Association of SMEs, Mr. Tidiane Boye, Industrial Development Officer of Investment Promotion Unit, Investment and Technology Promotion Branch of UNIDO, who made in-depth discussion on hot spots and difficulties encountered by Chinese SMEs in their international development with their foresight and global vision. They focused on global new industrial revolution and green industry trend and made valuable proposals and suggestions. After the forum, UNIDO and GASME signed Letter of Intent.


Activity Two: Germany-China Business Salon. This was held in Bad Homburg, Germany, on June 27. Deutsch-Chinesische Wirtschaftsvereinigung e.V. made a lecture on “Introduction to Investment Environment in Germany and How to Do Business with the Germans”. German international investment and trade experts introduced Germany’s latest investment and trade policies, investment and trade tendency as well as some kind reminders to Chinese entrepreneurs when dealing with German enterprises. Deutsch-Chinesische Wirtschaftsvereinigung e.V.


Activity Three: Germany-China SME Cooperation Conference 2012. This was held in Bad Homburg v. d. H, Germany on June 28. The German side had organized about 80 German enterprises in high-tech, manufacturing industry as well as financial institutes and commercial consulting institutes to the conference which have strong intention to cooperate with Chinese enterprises and over 200 projects for business talks with Chinese side. During the conference, German enterprises set up trade stands and Chinese enterprises could come to any German enterprise to match their business. In order to make their match-making activity successful, the Chinese organizer had sent Chinese enterprises’ intention for cooperation to the German side two months ahead of the conference and thus the German organizer can organize relevant German enterprises to attend the conference. After three hours’ efficient match-making, many enterprises had reached their intent on cooperation. For example, Shanshan Group and German AT Textile Company reached their intent to acquire German golf apparel enterprises, Hangzhou Nanbo Industrial Co., Ltd. and German environmental-friendly door and window enterprises agreed to cooperate on bamboo-made door and window technology, Ma’anshan Tianhui Material Co., Ltd. and German relevant enterprises agreed to import new wall-building machines from Germany, Shanghai Mingyueguang Biotech Development Co., Ltd. and German enterprises had reached their intent to introduce micro-filling technology from Germany, Ningbo Dafengche Educational Equipment Co., Ltd. intended to jointly design and manufacture cruisers with German cruiser company, Qingdao Jindun Transportation Equipment Co., Ltd. had business talks with German relevant enterprises to introduce Germany’s highway security facilities and helicopter motor engines, Pingyang Pengwei Machinery Co., Ltd. had agreed to introduce energy saving lights manufacturing technology from relevant German enterprises.According to incomplete statistics, over 50 Chinese enterprises have reached their intent on cooperation with EU enterprises with over 400 million Euros involved.

During this Conference, Zhejiang SME Association signed Memorandum of Understanding.


Activity Four: France-China Business Reception. This was held in Paris on June 29 with totally over 160 Chinese and French government officials, leaders of chambers of commerce and entrepreneurs attending the reception. The Chinese and French participants made face to face communications which enhanced the mutual understanding and resulted in potential business resources for both countries. Through this platform, Chinese entrepreneurs have established practical information and interpersonal relationship network with French government and business community.


In addition, the hosts had arranged the Chinese delegation to have a field visit to BMW Welt and attend LV Show in Paris. Through these activities, Chinese entrepreneurs have learnt about BMW’s as well as LV’s business concepts, marketing strategies, development history as well as their brand globalization strategies, which helped broaden their vision.


The events got great support and guidance from Chinese embassies and consulates. Ambassador Jingye Cheng, Chief Representative of P. R. China to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna had not only played host to the responsible person of the delegation, but also made a speech in the reception. Minister Counselor Wang Shichun, Deputy Representative of P. R. China to the UNIDO had actively participated in the preparation and following up work. Tang Zheng, consul of Chinese Consulate General in Frankfort, and Chen Yiwei, first secretary of The Chinese Embassy to France attended relevant activities and offered guidance.


UNIDO, the Chinese government and governments of EU countries, business communities and the media, all gave a high appraisal to it. Over ten media, including Xinhua News Agency, The European Times, xinhuanet.com, Economic Daily, Global Times had covered and reported on the events.