International mobility and flexibility have become key factors in today’s business climate. Immigration procedures remain very strict and compliance with local immigration and social law is controlled and severely sanctioned in case of non-compliance.
The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with Deloitte is therefore organizing an information session on aspects of immigration and social legislation which will focus on the posting of Chinese nationals to Belgium and vice versa. More specifically, the following topics will be discussed:

• Update on recent changes in Belgian and Chinese immigration law
• Recent and upcoming changes in European immigration issues: “What is Europe trying to achieve?”
• Update on recent changes in Belgian and Chinese law on personal taxation
• Highlights and preliminary results of Deloitte’s comparative study on the immigration of highly skilled non-EU employees to Europe: Benchmarking Belgium with 29 other countries.

The seminar will be held at KBC BANK and presented by Matthias Lommers, Senior Manager, Erwin Vandervelde, Partner (immigration aspects) and Boris Deraeve, Tax Director (tax aspects).

The aim of this event is to provide sound knowledge and understanding of the aforementioned issues, to enable companies to meet various requirements on a timely basis and avoid losing precious time or wasting resources.

The information session will take place at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday 29 May at KBC Bank, Havenlaan 2 in Brussels and will be followed by a networking cocktail.

If you are interested to participate, please register online by Friday 24 May 2013 at the latest. Participation fee for FCCC members: €65, non-members: €95.

Last year the Chinese economy expanded by 7.7%, a rate of growth largely seen as a continued ‘slowdown’. How did your company perform by comparison? The results of the 2013 Sino-Belgian Business Survey set the performance of Belgian companies in the right context. When we talk about the growth of Belgian businesses in China are we comparing apples and pears? Equally importantly, how do Belgian businesses feel about the future of their business in China?

Moore Stephens Verschelden, together with the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce, Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) and the Benelux Chamber of Commerce, are organizing a discussion on the results of this year’s survey with a panel of leading business figures and independent experts on Wednesday, 24 April 2013, 17h at KBC Bank, Havenlaan 2B, 1080 Brussels.

Agenda
16h30 – 17h00:     Registration
17h00 – 17h05:     Welcome by Mrs Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director, Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce
17h05 – 17h15:     Introduction by Mr Philippe Snel, Chairman Bencham Shanghai
17h15 – 18h05:     Panel discussion moderated by Mr Andries Verschelden, Partner Moore Stephens Verschelden
- Mr Tim Van den Bossche, Vice President Global Marketing & Strategy, Agfa Graphics
- Mr Filip Goris, Regional Manager China & India, Recticel
- Mr Wim Buyens, Senior Vice President Projection Division, Barco
- Mr Thomas Baert, Owner & CEO, Chinafloors
18h05 – 18h30:     Q&A session
18h30 – 19h30:     Networking Reception

Please sign up using this link before 19 April 2013.

Members: €30, Non-members : €45

Agoria, the EU SME Center, BCECC, FCCC, AWEX, BIE & FIT are organizing an afternoon seminar on how to mitigate risks in China. Join the seminar and discover:

How to find a suitable business partner? Are they reliable? Learn about the main aspects of preliminary due diligence, including:
Legal due diligence on the legal status of the company – duly registered, having all licenses, company chop, etc. and,
Financial and operational check – creditworthiness letter, financial statements, capital verification report, on-site check, premises, etc.

How to manage contract terms and reduce risk? There is a misconception that contracts have no value in China and that personal relationship takes precedence in commercial transactions. For successful business and, more importantly, staying safe, you really need both and your sales/purchase contracts can significantly influence the course of your deals, and business achievements in China!

How to avoid common contractual errors which lead to loss of technology, know-how and competitiveness (also including terms and rights of employment contracts)
Practical and useful tips on how to protect your business

You will receive practical advice from the EU SME Center expert, the panelists, and have the opportunity to attend a one-on-one consultation session to discuss your individual questions (each for max 20 minutes) with the EU SME Center expert after the seminar.

Programme:

13:30 Registration
14:00 Welcome word by Agoria on behalf of all organizers
14:10 Presentation by the EU SME Center

• 
  How to find a suitable business partner?
• 
  How to manage contract terms and reduce risk?

14:55 Coffee break
15:10 Panel discussions by

• 
  Jan Kriekels, CEO, Jaga NV
• 
  Ghislain Gilliot, CEO, Simonis Plastic SA
• 
  Olivier du Roy, ex Country Manager China, Solvay

moderated by Professor Johan Erauw (– also for the Q&A) of Ugent University
16:20 Q&A
16:50 Reaction with possible suggestions by EU SME Center
17:05 End + Networking Cocktail
17:05 In parallel – one-on-one consultation sessions

Interested to join the seminar? Thanks to register only via the link in Dutch or the link in French.

As the number of one-on-one sessions with the EU SME Center Expert is limited, it will be on first come first served basis. Please send us your one-on-one consultation session request together with your event registration.

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce, Ghent University and the Province of East Flanders, are organizing a networking evening with Chinese talent studying at Ghent University. This event will take place on Thursday 25 April at 17h at the Provinciaal Administratief Centrum (PAC), Woodrow Wilsonplein 2, 9000 Ghent.

This networking event will give you the opportunity to introduce your company to Chinese students, which are mostly from the faculties of: Engineering Sciences & Architecture, Bioscience Engineering, Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Law, Economics & Business Administration, Medicine & Health Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The programme is as follows :

17u00:     Welcome by Mr Hedwig De Pauw, Director Economic Affairs and International Relations, Province of East Flanders

17u05:     Welcome by Mrs Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director, Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce

17u10:     “Strategies for finding an employer in Europe” by Mr Patrick Meirlaen, Managing Partner at The Future Alliance and Partner at the International Executive Search Federation (IESF)

17u30:     Presentation of the participating companies and networking between students and business leaders.
Networking reception hosted by the Province of East Flanders

19u30:     End of programme

This event is an ideal way to meet about 100 Chinese students and to broaden your network.
During this event, you will have the opportunity to present your company via a presentation and a promotional stand.

This evening is organized with the support of Flanders Investment & Trade.
If you are interested in attending, please sign up using the following link before 18 April 2013.

Members €75, Non-members: €115.

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC), the Province and POM West-Flanders, VOKA and UNIZO are organizing a conference: “Opportunities for Flemish SME in China” on Wednesday 27 March 2013 at 18h00 at Provinciaal Hof, Markt 3 in Brugge.

Programme:

18h00     Registration
18h30     Welcome by Jean de Bethune, Vice Governor Economy, Province of West-Flanders
18h35     Introduction by Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director, Flanders-China Chamber of  Commerce
18h40     Opportunities for Flemish companies in the province of Zhejiang, by Mrs Yin Linggu, Senior Advisor, Province of West-Flanders in China
19h00     Testimonials on doing business with China:
- Yves Struyve, CEO, Trislot
- Eddy Coppieters, CEO, Primus Group
- Didier Leclercq, Chief Operations Officer, Vitalo Industries
20h00     Q&A session
20h30     Networking reception

During the conference you will also receive the publication “FCCC Members’ Portraits in China”, describing the activities of 18 Flemish companies which have succeeded in China. The publication contains valuable information about how they tackled the very competitive Chinese market.

Registration before March 20 via this link. Fee: members of FCCC, VOKA and UNIZO: €75, non-members: €95.

The conference is organized with the support of Flanders Investment & Trade.