A Successful EU-China SME Partnership Week 2013

The EU-China SME Partnership Week 2013, co-hosted by Global Alliance of SMEs and NRW.INVEST Germany, was held in Germany and France from Oct 8 to Oct 13, 2013. 500 entrepreneurs from China, Germany and France were present at the events.

The events and activities held included the China Business and Investment Forum, Germany-China Enterprises Matchmaking Conference, a visit to the Consulate-General of China in Frankfurt, visits to well-known German corporations, as well as the French New Investment Projects Info Session.

Led by Mr. Zhou Dewen, Vice Chairman of GASME, and Mr. Frank Cao, Secretary-General of GASME, the delegation arrived in Frankfurt on Oct 8th. The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Wen Zhenshun, Consul-general of China in Frankfurt. Mr. Wen said that holding EU-China SME Partnership Week is of great significance, as it helps to facilitate the cooperation between Germany and China, and that the Consul-general is ready to help promote SMEs’ international development.

The China Business and Investment Forum was held in Dusseldorf on Oct 10th. Over 500 government officials, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars from Germany and China attended this forum. The attending guests of honor included Mr. Garrelt Duin, Minister of Economic Affairs NRW, Ms. Petra Wassner, Director of NRW.INVEST, Mr. Meng Fanzhuang, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs of China Embassy in Germany, Dr. Peter Kreutzberger, Economic Consul of German Consulate in Beijing, Mr. Zhou Dewen, Vice Chairman of GASME, and Mr. Frank Cao, Secretary-General of GASME. Through their discussions, representatives from Huawei Group, Wolong Holding Group, WISCO International Tailored Blanks, and XCMG detailed their business cooperation between China and Germany.

Before the forum, a welcome reception was held in Dusseldorf China Center by NRW.INVEST. Mr. Garrelt Duin, Minister of Economic Affairs NRW and Ms. Petra Wassner, Director of NRW.INVEST met with the Chinese entrepreneurs. In addition, the entrepreneurs played table tennis with famous table tennis player Mr. Niels Henrik David Bohr, Image Ambassador of NRW.

Germany-China Enterprises Matchmaking Conference was held on Oct 11th. Over 100 enterprises from Germany and China participated in this conference. Cooperation in technology, financing, and trade was the theme. Chinese enterprises showed great interest in new technology projects and merger & acquisition projects introduced by German companies, especially in machine-building and auto parts industries. R&D and production capacities of most SMEs in Germany can meet the needs of Chinese enterprises, and are suitable for the Chinese market.

The GASME delegation visited TEEKANNE Group in Germany. Founded in 1882, TEEKANNE is the biggest fruit and herbal tea producer in Europe with production facilities and sales organizations in seven countries around the world. Accompanied by Mr. Feng Xingliang, China Chief Representative of NRW.INVEST and Mr. Richard Shen, Executive Secretary of GASME Germany Office, Chinese entrepreneurs visited the workshop and were highly impressed by the advanced technology and unique corporate culture.

French New Investment Projects Info Session was held in Paris on Oct 13th, with over 20 government officials and entrepreneurs from France attending. Chinese and French entrepreneurs reached an agreement that a large number of Chinese SMEs have capital and deep market penetration, but lack advanced technology and innovation, while French SMEs are strong in technological research and innovation. Therefore, it would be a win-win for SMEs in China and France to further their cooperation. In the evening, Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France, met with the leaders of the delegation at the hotel.

The EU-China SME Partnership Week 2013 was co-organized by Wenzhou SMEs Association, Shaanxi Association of SMEs, Commerce Chamber of Shandong Non-government Foreign Exchange Cooperation, and China-Kompetenzzentrum Düsseldorf.