The Province of West Flanders and the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) in cooperation with POM West Flanders, Flanders Investment & Trade, Howest Confucius Institute and the Zhejiang Federation of Industry and Commerce are organizing a banquet and seminar on ‘Business opportunities between China and West Flanders’. This event will take place on Monday 23 November 2015 at 11h45 at the Provinciaal Hof, Markt 3 in Bruges.

The programme is as follows:

Banquet

11.45     Registration of the participants
12.15     Welcome by Carl Decaluwé, Governor of the Province of West Flanders
The importance of the bilateral cooperation between West Flanders and Zhejiang by Zhang Lijun, Representative of the Embassy of China in Belgium
12.30     Lunch

13.50     Conclusion by Mr Jean de Bethune, Vice Governor of West Flanders

Seminar ‘Business opportunities between China and West Flanders’
Moderator: Stefan Blommaert, VRT

14.00     Welcome by Carl Decaluwé, Governor of the Province of West Flanders
14.10     Opportunities for doing business with China by Ms. Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director, Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce

14.30     Parallel workshop

• Workshop ‘Business opportunities in West Flanders’ by Mr Robrecht Declercq, staff member POM West Flanders
• Workshop ‘Business opportunities in Zhejiang’ by Mr Li Renzhi, Vice President Zhejiang Federation of Industry and Commerce

15.15     Coffee Break
15.30    Testimonials

• Mr Yu Dongsheng, General Manager, China Shipping
• Mrs Chai Hui, General Manager, ICBC
• Mr Francis Geeraert, Mangaging Director, V-Cons Group
• Mr Hans Feys, Managing Director, Pluviose
• Mr Xavier Vanneste, Managing Director, Halve Maan
• Mr Kurt Dobbelaere, Managing Director, European Trade Belgium

16.30     Conclusion by Jean de Bethune, Vice Governor of the Province of West Flanders

If you are interested in attending the banquet and/or the business seminar, please register online via the following link:

http://www.west-vlaanderen.be/inschrijven/Paginas/20151123_banket_en_seminarie.aspx

The EU SME Centre in partnership with Eurochambres and the EU-China Business Association (EUCBA) is organizing a two-day training programme in Brussels that will take a closer look at China’s macroeconomic trends, new initiatives, financial market, EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment and more.

The two-day training will take place on 12 and 13 November 2015 at the Thon Hotel EU, Rue de la Loi 75, 1040 Brussels.

If you work in an intermediary organisation that offers services for European companies to do business in China, this training will get you up to speed with the latest market news and business tools.

Day 1 Topics | 12 Nov, 08:30 – 19:00

• The slowing down of the Chinese Economy and the New Normal of 7% GDP growth – How do these affect European companies interested in doing business in China?
• China’s changing demography, consumer behaviour, health care reform in China, emerging service economy and its geo-economic policy: a challenge or an opportunity?
• Reforms in China and the anti-corruption campaign – a thorough look inside – including examples and cases
• Set up in China in a view of recent legislation changes and update on upcoming new Investment Law as well as opportunities in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free-Trade Zone
• Chinese Overseas Foreign Direct Investments – How should EU SMEs position themselves to attract Chinese OFDIs?

Day 2 Topics | 13 Nov, 9:00 – 17:30

• Stock market in China, Yuan devaluation, RMB internationalisation, shadow banking: How does all this affect European companies active in China?
• China’s One Belt One Road Plan; Creation of the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank and the link to the Juncker Investment Plan: How can EU SMEs profit from it?
• EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI): What are the public perceptions in Europe and China and where are the advantages for EU SMEs?
• Opening spaces: export opportunities for environmental technologies to China
• Made in China 2025: What is behind this new Chinese industrial policy and can it be beneficial to European SMEs?
• E-Commerce in China
• Exporting to China: New Quality and Safety laws

To view the full agenda, click here. Fee: €600.- (2-days training incl. accommodation costs). Register here. If you encounter any issues opening the registration form or have any questions about the training, please contact Mr Alexander Alles at Alexander.Alles@eusmecentre.org.cn

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce, The EU SME Centre in Beijing and the EU-China Business Association are organizing a training course focused on ‘E-Commerce in China: how to succeed in the fast-changing Chinese market?’.
This event will take place on Monday 19 October 2015 at 10h00 (registration at 09h30) at EUROCHAMBRES, Av. des Arts 19 A/D, B-1000 Brussels.

China has become the world’s largest e-commerce market. By 2020, the number of Chinese internet users is expected to reach 80% of the total population, and 70% will shop online.
This one day course will provide you with expert insights and hands-on experience in doing online business in China, which you will be able to apply in your real-world projects.
1. Course outline

• Understand e-commerce in China – how it works compared to Europe;
• Explore the best e-commerce options in China for your company and goods;
• Open an online store in China – step-by-step guidance;
• Get your goods to the right Chinese customers – logistics and product compliance;
• Intellectual Property Rights – what you should be aware of;
• Collecting payments;
• Digital marketing for your e-commerce business;
• Building your overall e-commerce strategy;
• Case studies & best practices.

2. Who should attend?

The training course is suitable for anyone who is involved in online business. Whether you are a business owner, marketing or BD director or e-commerce manager and specialist, you will get from this course a solid foundation for successfully planning and managing online selling in China for your products.

3. Registration

To sign up for this training, please click on the following link: http://www.flanders-china.be/en/events/upcoming/e-commerce-in-china-how-to-succeed-in-the-chinese-market-19-october-10-am-brussels/subscribe

4. About your trainer: Mr Dimitry van Toorn

Dimitry van Toorn is EU SME Centre expert who specialises in e-commerce strategy for European SME’s interested in expanding in China. He started his career at Mattel Inc., worked for nearly two decades respectively in Shanghai and Hong Kong at a major product Scouting and Sourcing Agency and joined Intertek plc (Hong Kong) in 2005. The latter is a leading Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) company, where Mr Van Toorn developed the Global Supply Chain business stream. Dimitry initiated and founded the company trade FWD with its proprietary B2B Cross-Border Payment Solutions, B2B Financing Options, and ESCROW services business model, before embarking a new area with founding VAN TOORN & ASSOCIATES including the ‘Enter CHINA’ initiative.

VAN TOORN & ASSOCIATES Limited is specialized in supporting international SME’s establishing business entities in the Far East (emerging) markets through seminars and trainings on B2C e-commerce business in Greater China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The key topics cover supply chain / fulfillment, (digital) payments, market quality / regulatory requirements, social media marketing, and intellectual property rights.

5. About the EU SME Centre

The EU SME Centre is a European Union funded initiative preparing SME’s to do business in China.  Located in Beijing, the Centre provides practical information, confidential advice, and training in the areas of business development, legal issues, standards and HR to facilitate market access for European SMEs. The Centre also acts as a platform to facilitate coordination amongst Member State and European public and private sector service providers to SME’s.

6. Fee & course package:

Fee: € 280(Excl. VAT)/person, includes full-day training, course material, lunch, and:

A prior technical consultation – An In house expert will help you determine:
– Whether your product or services are suitable for online business in China;
– What you stand to gain by entering the Chinese market;
– What risks you are likely to face when entering the Chinese market.
The EU SME Centre Gift Pack:
– Is China on your radar?
– Ways to enter the Chinese market.
– Exporting goods, services and technology
– Knowing your partners in China.

Tailor made follow-up services:
– Free access to the update of relevant EU SME Centre publications
– Tailored made assistance to your follow-up enquiries (free of charge for non-technical enquiries)

7. Cancellation policy:

If you cannot attend an event for which you have registered, please cancel your registration no later than 3 working days prior to the event by sending an e-mail to info@flanders-china.be. If we receive no cancellation within that date, all costs will be charged.

The legal environment for foreign companies in China has been undergoing some important changes in recent years. Most of these evolutions are directly linked to the implementation of China’s economic reform plan and of the rule of law, which is being promoted as an essential element thereof.

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) is organizing a seminar where will be discussed how these reforms affect daily operations of foreign companies in China.

The seminar will be presented by Mr Philippe Snel, who has been practicing as a foreign lawyer based in Shanghai for the past 10 years, advising foreign companies about the intricacies of Chinese law. He will share some of his insights with regard to the reform and the practical consequences it has on foreign businesses in China.

His presentation will deal with such issues as: legal compliance and risk management, the growing importance of labor laws, the increased tax scrutiny on foreign companies, the implementation of strict regulatory frameworks for several industries (e.g. food, advertising), the influence of environmental protection laws and the promises of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The lunch-seminar will take place on Friday 23 October 2015 at 12 h at the Zenith Building, 37, Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 1030 Brussels.

Participation fee: €75 (excl. 21 % VAT) for members and €95 (excl. 21% VAT) for non-members.

If you are interested in attending this seminar, please register online before 19 October 2015 via the this link.

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) is organizing a seminar in Ghent on the topic of “An update on recent changes in China’s legal environment”. Mr. Philippe Snel, Partner of the De Wolf Law Firm Shanghai will talk about recent developments in compliance, the food and labor laws, the increased tax burden of foreign companies, attempts to unify the administration of justice on intellectual property rights, and the increasing success of the Shanghai (China) Pilot Free Trade zone and e-commerce.

The seminar will take place on October 26, 2015 at 16 h. in Ghent (place still to be determined). Participation fee: €55 (Excl. VAT) and €75 (Excl. VAT).