(1888PressRelease)
November 15, 2007 - The second China Europa business convention will be held from 11 to 13 December 2007 in Le Havre (in Normandy), and will bring together 600 European and Chinese entrepreneurs from five targeted industrial sectors. Building on last year’s success, the event aims to boost partnerships between European and Chinese companies by programming over 5,000 business appointments. Peter Mandelson, the European Trade Commissioner, will inaugurate the event, to be attended by the French and Chinese ministers in charge of trade.
The China Europa convention is an opportunity to promote the expertise of European companies, showcase international industrial clusters and highlight each participating country’s assets with the aim of attracting Chinese investment.
Covering over 9,000m2 of exhibition area, China Europa 2007 will bring together 600 Chinese and European companies in five sector-based ‘villages’ that represent the five strategic focal points of the event. A programme of conferences and debates will enable the participating entrepreneurs to learn about commercial, regulatory, fiscal, logistical and policy matters relating to their expansion strategies in Europe and China.
China Europa has received the backing of the European Research Commission and the European Trade Commission. Mr Peter Mandelson, European Trade Commissioner, will be in Le Havre on 11 December 2007 to inaugurate the second China Europa gathering, along with Ms Christine Lagarde, French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Employment, and Mr Bo Xilai, Minister for Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.
The Chinese market continues to attract European companies. Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia and Poland will also join the convention as partners this year. Official delegations from these countries will be present in Le Havre, accompanied by local entrepreneurs, seeking to make contacts with the 15 delegations of Chinese buyers attending. Mr Juris Strods, Latvia’s Minister for the Economy, will be among the personalities attending the event.
The representatives of various European agencies in charge of regional economic expansion will be taking part in business meetings. The Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation (in Germany) has already confirmed its participation, alongside French regional bodies such as Normandie Développement, Provence Promotion and Champagne-Ardenne Développement. Discussions are under way with similar development agencies in Belgium, Britain and Spain. These organisations will promote their regions as destinations for Chinese and European investment, will be able to research potential sites for projects, and will be in a position to offer land and buildings to investors.
The business meetings will focus on five major industrial sectors, selected for their development potential within the framework of Chinese-European trade and corresponding to clearly identified current and future industrial needs. The five key sectors are: aerospace and transportation systems (aerospace, maritime, rail and automotive); environment and sustainable development (renewable energies, waste management & recycling, and air & water processing); manufacturing (electronics, plastics, composite materials and metalworking); trade and logistics (import/export, storage, multimodal transport and transit); and, finally, business services (regional promotion, finance, insurance and consulting).
Renewing its backing for China Europa, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MofCom) has commissioned the Trade Development Bureau of China (TDB) to be the official co-organiser of the event in China and to select the Chinese companies that will attend the China Europa convention in Le Havre in December 2007.
About China Europa
China Europa was established by Le Havre Développement as part of the region of Le Havre and Upper Normandy’s strategy for tackling major issues linked to globalisation, and to confirm the region’s paramount role as an industrial centre, a leading port and a large international logistics hub – more particularly with regard to trade with China.
China Europa 2007 will be held from 11 to 13 December 2007 at the Palais des Expositions Docks Café in Le Havre (in north-western France). It is being organised by the Le Havre Développement Economic Development Committee.
For further information, please go to: www.china-europa.org
