Back to the Future – the Impacts of the Corporate Social Credit System on SMEs and its Implications in Times of COVID-19

Back to the Future – the Impacts of the Corporate Social Credit System on SMEs and its Implications in Times of COVID-19 Go back »

Time

2020-03-24 | 15:30 - 17:30
Venue:

Online - Zoom (Link to be sent upon confirmation)
Address:

Beijing Lufthansa Center, Office C405, No. 50 Liangmaqiao Road, Beijing
北京市朝阳区亮马桥路50号燕莎中心写字楼中国欧盟商会C405
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The Corporate Social Credit System (SCS) is quietly changing the working of the Chinese economy. While the worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted many areas of the business community operating in China, in particular SMEs, the CSCS is still working and expanding its areas of influence. The difficulties in the resumption of work and failure the consecutive failure to provide as promised could post unknown consequences in the business SCS record. In this regard, the SCS could be an ally or a threat for SMEs, depending on the correct understanding of this influential tool.

The EU SME Centre and the European Chamber are thus pleased to invite you to our webinar where we will address pressing questions on how and what to do to overcome the impacts of COVID-19 for SMEs from a corporate social credit system view. Ms. Cara Meng, Senior Associate at Taylor Wessing and Ms. Kendra Schaefer, Partner at Trivium China, will both discuss the usage, understanding and also benefits and dangers that the SCS could pose to SMEs. The conversation will be moderated by the South China Local Chair Candidate to the SME Forum, Mr. Marco Förster, Senior Associate at Dezan Shira & Associates.

If you would like to attend, please register with Ms. Cindi Yu or through this event page before Monday, 23^rd March COB.

Please mind that Chatham House rules are applied in this meeting.

Agenda

15:30-15:40	Opening remarks and Self Introduction from South China Chair Candidate Marco Förster
15:40-16:15	Presentation by Ms. Cara Meng
16:15-16:50	Presentation by Ms. Kendra Schaefer
16:50-17:10	Discussion and Q&A

Speakers

Mrs. Cara Meng

Senior Associate, Taylor Wessing, Shanghai Office

Mrs. Cara Meng

Senior Associate, Taylor Wessing, Shanghai Office

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Cara Meng is a Senior Associate at Taylor Wessing based in Shanghai Office. Cara specializes in advising on compliance matters. Throughout the last 7 years Cara has advised various MNC’s and SME’s from different industries on compliance related matters. This covers both investigation work on complex internal investigations but also setting-up and maintaining compliance management systems for the China operations of foreign invested enterprises. Cara also specializes in general Chinese corporate and commercial law. She advises foreign companies on all aspects of Chinese laws in various industries with regard to their strategy and business in China. Cara’s industrial experience covers in particular the aviation, automobiles, chemical, life science and the general machinery manufacturing sectors.

Ms. Kendra Schaefer

Head of Digital Research, Trivium

Ms. Kendra Schaefer

Head of Digital Research, Trivium

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Kendra began building websites in the mid-1990s, when Geocities was still a thing, and has been skulking around China’s tech scene since 2004.

She has since consulted on over 150 digital projects for both private investors, SMEs and multinationals. Her clients have included Google, Envato, and the Eezy network. She is literate in Mandarin, and specializes in Chinese interfaces and usability.

Kendra now leads Trivium’s Social Credit Watch project, which is tracking the development of China’s social credit system.

Mr. Marco Förster

Senior Associate at Dezan Shira

Mr. Marco Förster

Senior Associate at Dezan Shira

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Marco Förster is Dezan Shira & Associates’ Shenzhen-based International Business Advisory Associate. Growing up in Berlin and Hanoi, and by gaining on-the-ground China experience since 2014, Marco feels comfortable in projects involving multiple jurisdictions. He mainly advises corporate investors in setting up and growing their businesses in China and ASEAN. These services can range from pre-entry assessments to “China Plus One” strategies, and ongoing support in conjunction with DSA’s legal, tax, accounting, HR and payroll teams. Within the German Desk, Marco looks after the firm’s German, Austrian and Swiss accounts, oversees publications and business partnerships.

Marco speaks fluent German, English, Mandarin, and Vietnamese, and studied economics and Chinese in Hangzhou and Beijing respectively. In 2018, he has joined the firm in Beijing and prior to that, he has gained consulting experience at other consultancies throughout Germany, China and Vietnam.

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