[Media Roundtable/Member-only Webinar] China’s Economic Outlook Amid COVID Go back »
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Time2022-05-16 | 16:00 - 17:30
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Venue:Zoom Online
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Address:Zoom Online
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Fee:Members: Free
China’s ongoing Omicron outbreak, which has led to widespread restrictions on travel and business activities in several major cities, has now become the top concern for multinationals. According to the results of a flash survey recently conducted by the European Chamber, China’s COVID-19 containment measures have had a negative impact on overall operations for three-quarters of respondents. In addition, the broader disruption to supply chains nationwide has resulted in significant economic costs. Investors are eager to know when the central government will relax its strict COVID policies and whether it still puts economic growth as one of its top priorities.
Though Shanghai is still struggling to stamp out Omicron and the Beijing Government has been implementing new restrictions on a weekly basis, the picture outside these two high-profile cities seems to be promising. A bottom-up analysis of China’s top 100 cities by gross domestic product, authored by Ms Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, illustrates a trajectory towards reopening in China’s major cities and proposes that it is possible to see an end to the current wave of lockdowns.
The European Chamber is delighted to invite Ms Cui to be our guest speaker at a cross-chapter online media roundtable/member-only webinar featuring local chairs from six chapters, to present China’s economic outlook and the business operations of European companies in China during this critical period.
Note: This is a joint media roundtable/member webinar. All information provided is on the record. European Chamber spokespersons are to be quoted in their European Chamber capacity only.
* Embassies and consulates of European member states can have one complimentary ticket on the first-come-first-served basis.
Agenda
16:00-16:05 Opening remarks
- Mr Jörg Wuttke, president, European Chamber
16:05-16:25 China’s Economic Outlook Amid COVID
- Ms Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst, Gavekal Dragonomics
16:25-17:00 Update on business operations of European companies in China
- Dr Andreas Risch, chair, Nanjing Chapter, European Chamber
- Ms Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, chair, Shanghai Chapter, European Chamber
- Dr Christoph Schrempp, chair, Tianjin Chapter, European Chamber
- Mr Harald Kumpfert, chair, Shenyang Chapter, European Chamber
- Mr Klaus Zenkel, chair, Southeast Chapter, European Chamber
- Mr Massimo Bagnasco, chair, Southwest Chapter, European Chamber
Hosted by Mr Jörg Wuttke, president, European Chamber
17:00-17:30 Q&A
Terms & Conditions
Events have limited seating so to ensure your attendance we encourage advance online registration and payment. We cannot guarantee entry to anyone not registered in advance.
Payment can be made by cash, (domestic) credit/debit card or WeChat. If pay in advance via WeChat we are typically able to provide Fapiao upon your arrival. For payments made on-site we will dispatch the Fapiao to the given address within 5-10 days.
Events are held in English and follow the Chatham House rule unless otherwise stated.
Cancellation Policy
If you cannot attend the event for which you have registered, please cancel your registration no later than one business day prior to the event. If you fail to notify us of your cancellation in a timely fashion, you will be charged for event costs.
To cancel you can: 1) email Vicky Zhang vzhang@europeanchamber.com.cn, or 2) cancel online if you registered for the event through the website.
Advisory Council Policy
Members of the Advisory Council may receive complimentary admission to Chamber seminars, conferences and factory visits up to two attendees per event. Additional participants will be charged at the member rate.
Advisory Council members will still be charged the standard member rate for participation in training courses and special events, such as gala balls, government appreciation dinners, or admission to corporate social events/tournaments.
For further information contact Luyang Syvänen lsyvanen@europeanchamber.com.cn
Speakers
Mr. Jörg Wuttke
Mr. Jörg Wuttke
Jörg Wuttke is Chief Representative of BASF China, based in Beijing. Wuttke is President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China – an office he already held from 2007 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2017. Wuttke is a member of the Advisory Board of the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) in Berlin. He contributes regularly to the Swiss financial blog https://themarket.ch/. Wuttke has lived in Beijing for more than three decades.
Ms. Ernan Cui
Ms. Ernan Cui
Ernan covers a wide range of topics related to Chinese consumers at Gavekal Dragonomics, including the labour market, demographics, urbanisation, and household savings and debts; she also tracks trends in major consumer-related sectors such as retailing, autos, tourism, healthcare, agriculture and food. She is often quoted by major international media outlets including the Financial Times, Reuters, Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.
A native of Tianjin, Ernan joined the Beijing office of Gavekal Dragonomics in 2013. She previously interned at Standard Chartered and Accenture, and was a part-time researcher at the University of Chicago's Beijing Center. Ernan graduated from Renmin University of China with an MA in economics and a double bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics.
Dr. Andreas Risch
Dr. Andreas Risch
As an Engineer, graduated in Material Science & Technology and in Mechanical Engineering / Production Technology (RWTH Aachen), my professional path began in R&D and Production Technologies. During the past 21 years I worked for BORSIG, GEA and TURCK before joining Fette Compacting in Nanjing.
Since 2000 I have been holding General and Senior Management (International Group level) positions with main responsibilities for Sales, Production, Engineering and R&D in the machinery / equipment business for various industries. In my responsibilities, it has been always my duty to drive businesses and operations; including strategic business and organizational development, change management, administration and personnel management on international level. My “China experience” started with improving and extending the operations of a JV (joint venture) back in 2004/05. Since January 2010, I am living and working in China as MD for WFOEs in Shanghai, Tianjin and now Nanjing. I am married and have two grown-up daughters.
Ms. Bettina Schoen-Behanzin
Ms. Bettina Schoen-Behanzin
Bettina Schoen-Behanzin entered Freudenberg Group in October 2012. As Regional Representative Asia she has been leading the Regional Corporate Center, based in Shanghai, China and is providing guidance and support for strategic planning and business development for the Freudenberg Business Groups in the region. From March 2008 to September 2012 she served as Managing Director of Wittur Elevator Components, China. She assumed the role of Managing Director of Rittal Electro-Mechanical Technology, China from 2000 to 2008, after having been the General Manager of Rittal in China as well as Sales and Marketing Manager of Rittal in Singapore. She had joined the Rittal Headquarters in Germany in 1992.
Bettina Schoen-Behanzin has acquired a Master degree in Sinology, Business Economics and Political Science at the Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany. Furthermore, she did Post-Graduate Studies of Chinese and Economics at Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Speaking Chinese fluently, Bettina Schoen-Behanzin has around 25 years of working experience in Asia, mostly in China, leading operational business as well acting in corporate functions. From April 2014 to April 2016 she served as Director of the Board of the German Chamber Shanghai, being reelected in April 2016 and April 2018 as President of the Board of the German Chamber Shanghai. In 2019, she was the first German woman to receive Shanghai Municipal Government’s Magnolia Gold Award.
Dr. Christoph Schrempp
Dr. Christoph Schrempp
Dr. Christoph Schrempp is the General Manager of Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre Ltd. In 2021, he was elected again to be the Chairman of the EUCCC Tianjin Chapter Board. He is an experienced senior manager with over 22 years of international leadership and industrial lobbying, having worked in various roles at Airbus in China and in Germany as well as served on German Board of Standardization for Cabin DIN/NL. He has nearly 10 years of experience with being involved in government dialogue including with the Chinese government, having served on the Board of EUCCC Tianjin Chapter in various roles including the chairman and vice-chairman. He has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Stuttgart University in Germany.
Mr. Harald Kumpfert
Mr. Harald Kumpfert
Harald Kumpfert serves as the Chairman of the Board, EU Chamber of Commerce in China, Shenyang Chapter.
Harald Kumpfert has been working for 20 years in China in the field of energy efficiency.
Harald introduced new technologies, designs and operational methods to the industry, helping companies to reduce their energy bills while contributing to the improvement of air quality.
In appreciation for his contribution to the development of the City of Shenyang and the Liaoning Province Harald was awarded the Rose Prize of Shenyang in 2013 and the Friendship Award of Liaoning in 2014 and serves as the supervisor on the business environment of Shenyang since 2018.
In 2015 Harald Kumpfert joined the Board of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China and took over the position of Chairman of the Shenyang Chapter to support European Companies in developing their business in North East and to foster the ties with the society.
Mr. Klaus Zenkel
Mr. Klaus Zenkel
Biography:
Born in Germany and graduated in Industrial Engineering. Until late 80's mainly remained in Germany near his hometown in Erlangen, where he had a position at Siemens Healthcare HQ.
From 1993 to 2006 he was based in Hongkong, Malaysia, Germany and China for several executive management positions within the Siemens Healthcare organization, one of which was Technical Director at Siemens Healthineers facility(SSMR), based in Shenzhen's Hi-Tech Industrial Park.
In 2006 start-up and developed from scratch the Shenzhen subsidiary of a Swiss Company, Imedco AG. Imedco is global player involved in the healthcare Industry, manufacturing MRI shielding solutions for hospitals and research institutions.
Involvement at European Chamber South China Chapter board since 2016. As an active board member of the European Chamber South China Chapter he holds the Chair of the board position since 2021. In the capacity as EU Chamber Vice President supports the member companies and meets with government officials on a regular basis to discuss the current economic and technological issues.
In March 2021 Klaus was elected as a Director of the Board at the Swiss Chamber in South China. He is also a member of the German Chamber in South China.
Mr. Massimo Bagnasco
Mr. Massimo Bagnasco
Mr. Bagnasco has been actively involved in the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) since his arrival in China. Since 2008, he has alternatively covered positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman of Construction Working Group. He has been also focusing on EU SME sector. In 2013, he was elected as Italian State Representative in the Supervisory Board of the EUCCC. Since 2014 till now, he became Member of the Chamber Executive Committee. Since 2017, he serves as Vice President. In 2021 he became also Chairman of Southwest China.
He has been involved in the preparation, implementation and development activities of EU-China Sustainable Urbanization Partnership. Mr. Bagnasco was also one of the four European experts, members of the Taskforce in charge EU-China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue framework agreement promoted by DG-RTD and MoST.
In 2016 he received the Knighthood of the Order of the Star by appointment of President of the Italian Republic to have acquired special credits and in the promotion of friendship cooperation of Italy with China.
Massimo Bagnasco is the CEO of China Europe Carbon Neutral Technology, a consulting firm which provide holistic solutions to the decarbonization target by the contribution of international academic experts and leading technology companies.
In 2004, he joined Progetto CMR, the only Italian integrated design firm ranked in the top 100 worldwide. The same year he moved to China setting up the local company (Progetto CMR Beijing) with offices in Beijing and Tianjin. He operated as Managing Director and was involved in several projects in China, including master plans, hotels, mixed use complexes, retail and sports venues. In 2009 he became a shareholder partner.
From 2017 to 2022, he is appointed as the visiting professor of School of Architecture and Design at Beijing Jiaotong University.
In 2019, he was appointed as member of advisory committee of International Centre for Creativity and Sustainable Development under the auspices of UNESCO (Category 2).
In 2021 he was appointed by the Politecnico of Turin University as China Centre advisory board member.
In 2023 he was nominated “Professional Affiliate" at IdM Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa
Mr. Bagnasco got a Master degree in Urban Planning and a bachelor degree in Architecture at University of Genoa.