Joint SME and Public Procurement Breakfast Seminar: Tendering Opportunities for European SMEs in Bei Go back »

2007-01-23 | Beijing

Joint SME and Public Procurement Breakfast Seminar: Tendering Opportunities for European SMEs in Beijing

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and Invest Beijing held a highly informative breakfast seminar on 23rd January at the Capital club, Beijing. The topic, Tendering Opportunities for European SMEs in Beijing, was designed to offer practical advice on the tendering process and investment opportunities in Beijing specifically for small-medium enterprises (SMEs). Speakers Gilbert Van Kerckhove, Chairperson of the Public Procurement Working Group, Zhang Rujie and Zhang Bin, from Invest Beijing delivered this valuable information to a group of Beijing business community members.

Mr. Van Kerckhove began the seminar by outlining the work of the Public Procurement Working Group and explaining the procedures involved in the tendering process. The Working Group was established in 2005 and is concerned with the purchasing and contracting issues of both multinational companies (MNCs) and SMEs. The group aims to develop better understanding of public procurement practices in order to benefit both European and domestic companies operating in China. The group has witnessed a number of improvements in the public procurement process in China in recent times with many more tenders advertised to the public and improved transparency in the bidding process. However, a number of challenges remain including the short response time attached to many tenders, which can exclude SMEs from preparing a bid in time. Mr. Kerckhove called to people working in SMEs to approach the Public Procurement Working Group with any concerns and issues they have on this topic. The Working Group can offer advice on relevant laws and regulations including the China Bidding Law. Mr. Kerckhove invited interested parties to attend the next Public Procurement Working Group meeting on 2nd March.

To view the presentation click here.

Mr. Zhang Rujie, Director of the Department of International Business introduced Invest Beijing International (IBI) to the attendees. IBI has been operating since 2004 with the aim of matchmaking projects to capital and has been very successful during this time. Invest Beijing offers a wealth of information regarding tendering opportunities on its website and a number of other services including an investment and financing consulting service and a promotion and publicity service. This is a key resource for SMEs in Beijing. Mr. Zhang Bin, Project Manager in the Investment Department of IBI, continued the seminar by listing the appointed media for bidding announcements, discussing the difference between public tenders and invitational tenders, outlining the procedures of bidding and explaining how to deal with problems in the process.

To view the presentation click here.

The seminar concluded when members of the audience were invited to put questions forward to the speakers. The audience, many from SMEs, raised points concerning improving bidding ability, accessing projects and the Beijing municipal government’s annual procurement catalogue. Such issues and more are discussed and addresses within the Chamber’s Working Groups and the European Chamber encourages participation in these groups. For further information about the Public Procurement Working Group please click here and for the SME Working Group please click here. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China is pleased to be involved in this event and hopes that there will be many more such events in the future.