Dear all,  

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China Shenyang chapter is delighted to invite you to attend the inaugural meeting of  the Automotive/Automotive Components Working Groups which takes place on Wednesday,  25th November, from 3:00 pm -6:00 pm, at the BMW plant in Shenyang . 

The European Chamber aims to achieve greater market access and to improve operational conditions for its member companies through various lobbying strategies, which are mainly shaped by the business interests of our Working Groups.

As the core of the European Chamber, a Working Group consists of technical experts and experienced representatives from relevant industries and other stakeholders, providing members with a platform to exchange information, discuss industrial issues, formulate working plans and expand their networks of European and Chinese business contacts.

Given the significant presence of Automotive/Automotive Components industries in the region, the European Chamber has decided to set up the Automotive/Automotive Components Working Groups in Shenyang in order to bring foreign manufacturers and importers of passenger cars, commercial vehicles/buses, automotive components, special vehicles and automated systems together. We aim to enhance constructive dialogues between members and Chinese European authorities on common industrial issues as well as promote the information flow between chapters in different locations around China (Beijing, Shanghai & Shenyang).

Dr. Dominik Declercq, the Chief Representative of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) in China, also Chair of the Automotive WG in Beijing, will make opening remarks at the meeting. BMW has kindly offered us the meeting facility and will provide a factory tour for participants before the start of the meeting. 

Tentative Agenda:

1. Factory tour at BMW (3:00 pm-4:30 pm)

2. Welcoming remarks (4:40-4:50 pm, Ms. Sierra Wang and Mr. Sven Kunath, General Manager and Chair of Local Board of European Chamber Shenyang)

3.  Introductory speech (4:50  – 5:00, Dr. Dominik Declercq, Chief Representative, ACEA & Chair, Automotive WG, Beijing)

4. Introduction to the Working Group, including the aims and scope of the Working Group, the ways in which it will operate in the future, its relationship with the chapters in Beijing and Shanghai  and the process of electing Chairs (5:00 pm-5:30 pm, Mr. Bruce Fu, Business Manager, European Chamber Shenyang Chapter)

5. Future events:  Potential Automotive Training program in Changchun (5:30 pm -5:40 pm)

6 AOB (5:40 pm -6:00 pm)

7 Reception (100 RMB/Person, 6:30 pm -8:30 pm, Sheraton Hotel, separate event, free choice)

Please register your participation at the meeting and/or the reception by sending an email to Mr. Bruce Fu at bfu@euccc.com.cn or telephone: 0086 (24) 2334 2428 by 18:00,20th November, 2009.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Event review

 Auto/Auto Components Working Group, ShenyangFirst Working Group Meeting

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009, 15:00 pm-18:30 pmBMW factory, Board Meeting room, Shenyang

Participants

Company Name	Name
Jinbei Johnson Control	Sven Kunath (Local Board Chair)
BMW	Hans Kroeppelt (Local Board Member)
Michelin	Gary Scheide (Local Board Member )
Siemens	Wang Xiaobai (Local Board Member)
Siemens	Ma Yongle
Bekaert	Bao Yan
ABB	Zhang Haiyin
Arnold	Cai Hong
Tyco	Jimmy Li
Atlas Copco	Joachim Spiess
Atlas Copco	Angelika Spiess
Boysen	Dirk Wihan
Schedl	Frank Höno
Liaoning Zhongyuan	Yin Xiangyang
Liaoning Zhongyuan	Jiang Jiaqi
EUCCC/ EAMA	Dominik Declercq
EUCCC	Sierra Wang
EUCCC	Bruce Fu

Total Number: 18

Introduction

The first Automotive/Automotive Components WG’s meeting in Shenyang took place at the Board Meeting room in BMW factory. Apart from a plant tour, the proposed ideas for the creation of Working Group as well as companies’ expectation for the Chamber’s services were discussed at the meeting.

1. Site visit BMW and presentation

Before the start of the meeting, BMW team led the WG around the factory and showed the WG that the whole production chain such as painting room, body shop and assembly line...etc.

After the tour, Mr. Hans Kroeppelt, the Senior Vice President of BMW and the head of local Plant as well as the local board member of European Chamber in Shenyang, gave a presentation on the business development of BMW factory in Shenyang since 2003. As a successful joint venture, BMW has kept growing at a rapid pace over the past few years, with a strong reputation for high quality standards as well as BMW’s commitments to environment protection in China by promoting innovative technology. Meanwhile, Mr. Hans Kroeppelt also emphasized BMW’s Corporate Social contribution to Chinese society, such as donation to China’s Snow Storm and Sichuan earthquake disaster in 2008. 

The European Chamber would like to thank BMW, in particular Mr. Hans Kroeppelt, and all others involved in the preparation and realization of this first Working Group meeting at the BMW facilities in Shenyang.  

2. Welcoming speech

Ms. Sierra Wang, General Manager of the European Chamber in SY, firstly welcomed all attendees to join the first WG meeting. She then gave a brief introduction to the European Chamber to the participants. As she said, there are currently 1400 member companies which are located in the 8 chapters of the European Chamber cross China(Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chengdu, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Nanjing& Guangzhou).

She presents the situation of the European Chamber in Shenyang. Currently, we have about 20 members in this city and just have three new members joining in the Chamber during this month (ABB, Philips and Liaoning Zhongshen Group). She hopes that the WG could be used as a solid base to enhance the capabilities of the local chapter as well as to get more companies to join the European Chamber in Shenyang.

Mr. Sven Kunath, the Chair of local Board as well as the General Manager of the Jinbei Johnson Control, emphasized the significant presence of Automotive industry in this city and believes that it makes sense to start such a WG as it would stress local concerns as well as help automotive related companies with better performance in this city.

Dr. Dominik Declercq, the Chief Representative of European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and Chairman of Automotive WG in Beijing, introduces the development history of Automotive WG of European Chamber in Beijing and its relationship with ACEA.  As he explains, the Automotive WG focuses on the policy lobbying at central level through the Position Paper, an annual publication produced by the European Chamber, and the ACEA mainly focuses on technical discussion, such as standards and laws, with relevant authorities at working levels.

In contrast to the role played by Automotive WG in Beijing, Dr. Dominik Declercq would expect that Auto/Auto Components WG include more local contents and characters. He points out that Shenyang WG could provide more concrete facts and case study that could be used to support the lobbying efforts by European Chamber to promote a better investment environment for European Business in China as well as in this city.

3. Introduction to the WG

Mr. Bruce Fu, Business Manager of the European Chamber, gave an introduction to the proposed ideas for the Automotive/Automotive Components WG in Shenyang. The concept of the WG is to:”provide an effective platform to promote flows of information and knowledge that allows companies to perform more effectively in this region/China”.

The Working Group will be focusing on the following three aspects:

1.To construct an information network that provide members with a crucial alert system and access to essential information and knowledge to support business processes

2. To conduct constructive dialogues with relevant local authorities for better understanding of current policies/regulations in the vehicle industry

3. Coordinate with Auto/Auto Components WGs in Beijing and Shanghai for lobbying activities happening at national level to promote a better investment environment for vehicle industry in China.   

Moreover, this WG is also looking for Chair/Vice Chairs to steer the WG. Attendees could send email to Mr. Bruce Fu if they are willing to take up the position and then vote through email.

4. Discussion

After the presentation on the proposals for the WG, there were discussion among attendees on their expectation for the service that the WG as well as the European Chamber would offer.

During the discussion, Mr. Hans Kroeppelt, also informs attendees that BMW has finalized its medical contract with No.2 Hospital for a dedicated medical service for foreigners and expressed that BMW would share this contract with all other members. 

Mr. Sven Kunath said that Johnson control would also share the market data and relevant industrial information with members and Mr. Wang Xiaobai, Vice President of Siemens, as well as local Board member, expressed that Siemens would like to share their strong expertises in the field of localization of employees and HR management skills.

Apart from the information shared by the local board members, attendees would like to see the WG/European Chamber focus on the following aspects:

1.Networking
2.Government Affairs Function
3.Sharing Best Practice/industrial information
4.Daily Life service such as healthcare, international school, cinema and so on.   

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Sven Kunath and Mr. Hans Kroeppelt jointly called for a brainstorming workshop/seminar in the near future to bring local foreign companies together to have a discussion on their specific needs and expectations for the European Chamber Shenyang Chapter, upon which we would be able to agree on a concept for marrying the interests of different actors as well as developing a membership bases in this city.

Action Plan:

Follow up with attendees with an invitation to brainstorming event for the strategic development of the local chapter in the future.

  

Contact