The fast growth of E-commerce presents an attractive opportunity for European SMEs to access Chinese markets, allowing them to promote their goods to a vast market spread across a large geographic area, for relatively little cost.  As the growth of online selling in China continues to reach remarkable levels, it is essential to keep track of the latest trends, safeguard your brand against the risks of pirated and counterfeited products online and develop a pre-emptive strategy that is right for your business.

It is in this context that the EU SME Centre and China IPR SME Helpdesk are inviting you to an afternoon seminar and networking event aimed at European SMEs that are developing their online business in China. During the seminar you will learn:

• Why EU SMEs should be considering online selling in China; 
• Ways to sell online: how to get your goods to market;
• How to develop a strong online marketing strategy;
• Understand ‘cybersquatting’ and how to protect your domain name;
• Learn how to monitor e-commerce sites for counterfeits and how you can get support from websites such as taobao.com and alibaba.com to protect your products and brand.

You will receive practical advice from our China experts and have the opportunity to attend a one-on-one consultation session to discuss your individual questions, as well as joining in the networking session bringing you together with likeminded SMEs working online in China.

Tentative Agenda

4.00pm – 4.30pm     Registration

4.30pm – 5.00pm     Opportunities and trends selling online in China

                                                                        Chris Cheung, Director, EU SME Centre

5.00pm – 5.30pm     Protecting your brand and products online in China  

                                                                        Stacey Yuan, Associate, Jones Day (China IPR SME Helpdesk)

5.30pm – 6.00pm     Developing a strong online marketing strategy for your SME

                Yuan Zou, Managing Director, Digital Jungle

6.00pm – 6.20pm     Q&A Session

6.20pm – 7.00pm     Networking (with complimentary drinks and canapés)

One-On-One Business Consultation Sessions

If you would like to receive confidential One-on-One advice about your business in China, sign up for a free, 20-minute consultation with the experts of the EU SME Centre or the China IPR SME Helpdesk. To ensure you have a chance to meet with the experts, please book your session in advance by indicating your interest when you register. Please specify the nature of your question and the expert you wish to book a session with. The One-on-One consultations are open to European SMEs on a first-come, first-served basis. Any information you provide to the EU SME Centre and the China IPR SME Helpdesk with be treated as confidential.

Registration and Cancellation

This seminar is available to European small and medium enterprises and SME intermediary organisations such as embassies or consulates, chambers of commerce and trade associations only. If you meet the criteria and would like to attend, please register by emailing registration@eusmecentre.org.cn with the name and date of the event in the subject line and your company information. You will receive a confirmation email.

Speaker Biographies

Chris Cheung, Director, EU SME Centre

Chris is the Director of the EU SME Centre, an EU funded project supporting European SMEs looking to export or invest in China. He has been identifying market opportunities and providing market access advice to companies entering the Chinese market for the past eight years. As EU SME Centre Director, Chris leads an international team of experts in providing practical, up-to-date business advice in a wide range of industries including ICT, renewable energy and food and beverages. He has a Master’s degree in Chinese and Business from the University of Leeds. Chris is responsible for providing relevant, timely and effective advice to European Union SMEs on identifying, developing and realising export and investment opportunities in China.  

Stacey Yuan, Associate, Jones Day (China IPR SME Helpdesk)

Stacey Yuan has handled many IP-related litigations in China, including representing clients in Chinese courts on trademark infringement and domain name dispute cases. She has advised multinational companies on anti-counterfeiting strategies and civil and criminal actions, conducted IP audits, and drafted trademark assignments and licensing agreements in commercial transactions. Stacy speaks regularly at client seminars and to industry associations on issues such as the enforcement of intellectual property rights and brand protection. Besides this she talks to European governments and industry group delegations on a regular basis, as a way of introducing them to China IP practices.

Yuan Zou, Managing Director, Digital Jungle

Before working as Managing Director of Digital Jungle, Yuan headed up the consulting practice of Publicitas Beijing. This was part of the expat assignment from the Swiss based multinational traditional media group, PubliGroupe, where Yuan served in Corporate Development at HQ in Lausanne Switzerland for 5 years. Previous to that, Yuan had an international academic and professional career, from University in Japan, MBA in Cambridge University in England, to Accenture Consulting in the US and Deutsch Telekom in London. Yuan is fluent in French, English and Chinese.   

About the EU SME Centre

The EU SME Centre is a support service provider for European SMEs facilitating market access in China. The Centre provides practical information, advice and business tools free of charge, aimed at better equipping SMEs to develop their business and tackle challenges faced in the Chinese market. The online portal www.eusmecentre.org.cn will help SMEs gain a clearer insight into conducting business in China, by offering professional information and confidential advice.

About the China IPR SME Helpdesk

The China IPR SME Helpdesk provides free information, first-line advice and training to SMEs to protect and enforce their IPR in China. The Helpdesk’s services are free to European SMEs and SME intermediaries (including EU embassies) and includes training events in China and Europe; online tools and materials at www.china-iprhelpdesk.eu and tailored advice from our expert by phone, Email or though the website.

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