Business Environment Seminar for Foreign-invested Companies (Shandong Session)
2019-03-28 | Beijing
On 28th March 2019, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (European Chamber) co-hosted the Business Environment Seminar for Foreign-invested Companies (Shandong Session) in Jinan, Shandong, with the support and organization of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shandong Sub-Council (CCPIT Shandong). Attendees included: Mr Zhang Shenfeng, Vice Chair of CCPIT; Ms Ren Airong, Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Shandong (Shandong Government); Mr Wei Huaxiang, Deputy Secretary-General of Shandong Government; Ms Yu Haiyan, Deputy Director-General of the CCPIT Trade and Investment Promotion Department; Mr Liu Xiaojiang, Vice Chair of CCPIT Shandong; Ms Song Wei, Chief Economist of the Shandong Development and Reform Commission; Mr Zhang Weike, Deputy Director-General of the Shandong Department of Commerce; representatives from various Shandong Government departments and bureaus; and CCPIT Shandong members. Led by Mr Massimo Bagnasco, Vice President of the European Chamber, 22 representatives from 15 Chamber member companies also attended the seminar, and had fruitful exchanges with CCPIT and Shandong Provincial Government officials.
At the meeting, Vice Governor Ren, Vice Chair Zhang, Vice President Bagnasco and Deputy Director-General Zhang delivered opening speeches. As host, Ms Ren welcomed Chamber attendees. She went on to address the transformation from old dynamics to new, and encouraged FIEs to invest in Shandong. European Chamber Vice President Bagnasco in his speech emphasized that to create a good business environment, local government should be easily accessible for enterprises, ensure a consistent and predictable regulatory environment with greater cross-departmental coordination, and provide more vocational training. He added that SMEs can also play the same important role in Shandong’s development as larger companies.
After presenting details on business and potential investment interest in Shandong, Chamber members expressed the need to learn relevant policy evolution trends in areas such as: volume base procurement in Consumable and Disposable Medical Devices (CDMD); market access for medical devices; attracting investment; manufacturing upgrades; green transportation; the environment industry; the certification industry; and talent and innovation in Shandong. Shandong Government officials responded accordingly, and promised to follow up on measures for some pending issues. At the meeting, Vice President Bagnasco also presented the Chamber’s European Business in China Position Paper 2018/2019 to both Vice Chairman Zhang Shenfeng and Vice Governor Ren Airong.