On 25 July 2024 in Guangzhou, European Chamber South China Board Member and HR Forum Vice Chair Ms Blandine Cressard was invited to participate and deliver a speech at the Promotional Conference on Business and Travel Activities in Guangdong for Foreigners. The event was also attended by Mr Zhang Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, and Ms Cheng Wei, Division Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province.
During the speech, Ms Cressard highlighted that the introduction of China’s 144-hour visa-free policy had shown signs of a positive impact on European businesspeople. This policy allows short-term business visits without a visa, making it easier for European professionals to enter China for meetings, negotiations, and networking events.
Ms Cressard also noted that for EU SMEs, this policy significantly lowers the barriers to entry, providing them with more opportunities to explore and establish a presence in the Chinese market. It allows SMEs to efficiently conduct market research, engage with potential partners, and attend industry-specific events without the administrative burden of securing a visa. This streamlined process is crucial for SMEs, which often operate with limited resources and need to maximise their time and efforts during business trips.
In closing, Ms Cressard expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Guangdong government for their unwavering support and dedication to creating a favourable environment for international businesses and reaffirmed the European Chamber’s commitment to supporting European companies in navigating and thriving in the Chinese market.
The European Chamber Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Forum comprises European SMEs operating in various industries in China who strive for improved operating conditions and exchange on practical business issues to foster their success in China. Advocacy actions for SMEs organised by the European Chamber and the EU SME Centre include regular working group meetings and policy meetings covering issues of specific relevance for European small and medium-sized businesses in China. Find out more on our Advocacy page.
Among the activities of the Forum, the annual publication of the Inter-Chamber SME Working Group Position Paper is the product of extensive feedback gathering from European SMEs in China conducted through the Inter-Chamber SME Working Group. The Position Paper is the main vehicle of the European Chamber and EU SME Centre for SME advocacy, as it contains the key concerns and recommendations from European SMEs on a given year. Read the 2023/2024 SME Position Paper here.
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