Successful Opening Event of the Pearl River Delta Chapter in Guangzhou Go back »

2006-06-13 | South China

The European Trade Commissioner Mr. Peter Mandelson and the EU Ambassador to China Mr. Serge Abou officially launched, on 5th June, the Pearl River Delta Chapter of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

The Pearl River Delta represents China’s manufacturing pillar in the sectors of electronics and information equipments, textile, automotive, energy and chemicals, together with its developing service sectors as finance, logistics and transports.

“The opening of the Pearl River Delta Chapter shows that the Chamber is extremely committed to enhance the dialogue and to improve the business environment also at a local level. The cluster-based economical system formed by Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and Zhuhai truly represents the biggest and most concrete example of China’s economic reform, and European companies are among the main supporters of this achievement” said European Chamber President Janssens de Varebeke, in his opening speech.

The Opening Ceremony was held with a significant attendance of European-invested companies operating in Guangdong, which detected the high business potentiality of the area, and wish to further expand their operations if the surrounding business environment supports their strategy.

Before the opening dinner, Mr. Mandelson held also a meeting with representatives of the EU diplomatic corp based in Guangzhou, led by the Finnish Consul General Mr. Hannu Toivola, and representatives of the European business community. The discussion was mainly focused on investment opportunities, IPR, energy, government procurement, logistics, infrastructures and corporate social responsibility. Since the Guangdong economic and manufacturing structure, a special mention was also made regarding the investments and the operations of European SMEs in this region.

The Guangdong Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the new presence of the European Chamber in the Pearl River Delta area. The new office will become the point of reference of many European enterprises and, in its role of facilitator of business and dialogue, it will directly contribute to the enhancement of EU–China relations.