On the first day of the Conference, policymakers from the EU institutions, economists, industry experts, and think-tank analysts will share their insights into EU-China trade relations, China’s economic outlook, the current policy environment, green technology’s rise and trends, and how these factors impact European SMEs.
The second day will focus on practical, cross-sectoral information for SMEs operating in China. Presentations will address industrial dynamics, new developments in intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, and recent advancements in connectivity and cybersecurity, featuring insights from analysts and business representatives already active in the Chinese market.
Tuesday 29 October
Agenda (Brussels Time)
9:00–9:30
Opening remarks
– Bonifacio Garcia Porras, Head of Unit, DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Directorate A, GROW Unit A2 – SMEs, European Commission
– Igor Kalinic, Head of Sector, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency – EISMEA, European Commission
9:30–11:00
China’s Economic Outlook
Keynote speaker:
– Dan Wang, Ex-Chief Economist, Hang Seng Bank China
– Alicia Garcia-Herrero, Chief Economist for Asia Pacific, Natixis (joining online)
Panel discussion moderator:
Massimo Bagnasco, Vice President, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
11:00–11:20
Coffee break
11:20–12:20
EU-China Trade Relations
Keynote speaker:
Eva Valle Lagares, Head of Unit Far East, DG Trade, European Commission
12:20–14:00
Lunch
14:00–14:45
Implementing the EU SME Centre: A Discussion with Consortium Partners
– China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC)
– European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC)
– Italy-China Council Foundation (ICCF)
– Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação (SPI)
– Trade Promotion Europe (TPE)
– EU-China Business Association (EUCBA)
14:45–16:15
Policy Environment and Business Confidence
Keynote speakers and panellists
– Ester Cañada Amela, Advocacy Manager, EU SME Centre
– Luisa Santos, Deputy Director General, BusinessEurope
– Andrzej Juchniewicz, Head of Foreign Trade Office in Shanghai, Polish Trade and Investment (PAIH)
16:15–16:30
Coffee break
16:30–17:30
Green Technologies
– Massimo Bagnasco, Vice President, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
– Wanyuan Song, Section Editor (China), Carbon Brief
– SME Participants in the 2024 SME Business Mission organised by the EU SME Centre
17:30–19:00
Networking cocktail
Wednesday 30 October
Agenda (Brussels Time)
9:00–10:20
Cybersecurity and Connectivity
Tom Nunlist, Associate Director, Trivium China
Simone Ciampi, General Manager, Exprivia IT Solutions Asia
10:20–10:35
Coffee break
10:35–11:30
IPR Protection: Recent Developments
Simon Cheetham, Team Leader, China IP SME Helpdesk
11:30–12:30
Industrial Dynamics: Local Governments, Regional Clusters, Free-Trade Zones, High-Tech Zones
Alessio Petino, Business Advisor, EU SME Centre
Mirko Turrina, General Manager, Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co. Ltd.
For more information and subscription: https://www.eusmecentre.org.cn/events/2024-understanding-china-conference/