The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce recently organised a two-day visit to Weihai City, Shandong Province, from 19 to 20 October 2023. The FCCC was represented by Ms Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director. Three Flemish SMEs participated in the visit: Deroose Plants; Marelec Food Technologies; and PB Leiner. They gained an excellent understanding and appreciation of Weihai’s unique investment environment from meetings with leaders of the Municipal Bureau of Commerce, as well as having a very good and encouraging meeting with the Mayor of Weihai, Mrs Kong Fanping. The FCCC was represented by Ms Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director.
The participants visited biotech, agricultural and fish processing companies. They met with potential customers and partners, identifying within those companies the right person to forge potential cooperation. The participants also visited industrial parks such as the Weihai Economic and Technological Development Zone and met with different district leaders to learn more about Weihai’s industry and development.
“Our visit with FCCC to Weihai was very useful, highlighting the region's agricultural focus and the potential for horticultural innovation, reinforcing Deroose Plants’ leadership in tissue culture R&D and sowing the seeds for future collaborations that promise to enhance local production and market expansion”, said Lucas Van Haelewyn, PhD, Managing Director, China, and Director Corporate Projects, Deroose Plants.
“The FCCC provided us excellent access to potential clients and important customers and acted as a bridge to further develop our business in Weihai”, said Henry Ye, Managing Director, PB Leiner China.
“Due to the efficient and dynamic Weihai authorities and the very business-friendly investment environment, our members Bekaert and Beaulieu have major investments in the city”, said Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director FCCC.
Over the past 10 years, the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce and the Weihai Foreign Investment Bureau have formed a strong bond to help build and then strengthen trade relations between both sides and to introduce each other's investment environments.
The leading eight industrial clusters of Weihai are:
• Advanced equipment and intelligent manufacturing
• New medicine and medical devices
• New generation of information technology
• New energy
• Carbon fibre and other composite materials
• Marine life and healthy food
• Fashion and leisure sports
• Health tourism
If you are interested to learn more about the Weihai investment environment or to expand your business in the city, please send an e-mail to: gwenn.sonck@flanders-china.be .
