Advocacy Actions: Dialogue with Shanghai Government during CIIE

On Thursday 7 November, the European Chamber, in partnership with the EU SME Centre, hosted the Dialogue with Shanghai Government: Driving European SMEs’ Growth in China at Primus Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao, among the Shanghai Events and Conferences of the China International Import Expo. Mr Carlo Diego D’Andrea, Vice President of the European Chamber and Chairman of the Shanghai Chapter Board, and Mr Zhang Guohua, First-class Inspector of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, attended and gave the opening remarks. Mr Steven Basart, General Manager of the European Chamber Shanghai Chapter hosted the meeting. Mr Xu Ming, Director of the Coordination Office for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, delivered an interpretation on the Shanghai Measures to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. Ms Ester Cañada Amela, Advocacy Manager at the EU SME Centre, delivered the keynote speech on opportunities and challenges for SME’s business growth in China.

Mr Carlo Diego D’Andrea pointed out that many of the European SMEs are ‘hidden champions’ and are of great significance to the economic development of both Europe and Shanghai. However, SMEs still face multiple challenges in their development, and call for more policy support to promote their long-term healthy development. Mr D’Andrea appreciated the Shanghai Municipal Government for its new measures and efforts in supporting the growth of SMEs, and hoped there would be more future exchanges as such between government and enterprises to facilitate communication between local governments and European SMEs and create a stable and healthy business environment.

Mr Zhang Guohua emphasised that SMEs are essential in Shanghai’s development, contributing positively to the city’s economy, employment, and innovation. They are also an indispensable link in the industrial and supply chain with a pivotal position. Looking towards the future, he welcomed more European SMEs to enter China and Shanghai, and expressed hope to further strengthening cooperation between China and Europe to create a new chapter.

Mr Xu Ming gave a comprehensive interpretation of Shanghai’s policies to support the development of SMEs. Following this, Manager Amela elaborated on the challenges faced by the European SMEs in China and their development strategies. Nearly forty European SME representatives attended the conference and participated in the Q&A session, actively providing suggestions for SME development and initiating exchanges with relevant departments on intellectual property protection, cross-border data flow, and taxation issues.

Officials from the Shanghai Tax Bureau and Shanghai Qingpu District Tax Bureau of the State Tax Administration and the Shanghai (International) Tax Service Centre of the State Tax Administration attended the meeting and joined the Q&A session.