The EU SME Centre and the China International Technology Transfer Centre organised the Sino-Irish Partnership Event on Oct 20th in Suzhou, a delegation led by Cork Chamber in Ireland to meet with the local business community and universities, share market experiences and explore opportunities for future cooperation.
As one of the Enterprise Europe Network activities in China, the event also received support from local partners including Peking University, the Suzhou Industrial Park Association of Purchasing and Trade and TSITE Group.
During the event, the delegates visited the Suzhou Industrial Park, attended a series of matchmaking meetings with selected Chinese companies and toured the campus of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. In addition, they joined a training session provided by Centre expert Rafael Jimenez on the rise of e-commerce in China.
China is Ireland’s biggest trade partner in Asia and the eight largest trade partner globally after the UK, US, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and France. Two-way Ireland-China trade in goods and services is more than €8 billion per annum.
In 2014, during a state visit to China by President Higgins, China and Ireland signed of a number of agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding between both countries to support closer people-to-people relationships, through city twinning, joint research between Irish and Chinese universities, and cooperation in science, technology, and entrepreneurship.
With a population of 119,230, Cork is the second largest city in the state and the third most populous on the island of Ireland. It is an important seaport and has been pioneering the use of sister city/region initiatives in building relations with China since 2005. As the largest business organisation in the Cork region, the Cork Chamber has collaborated significantly with the City Council in helping to develop the business relationships between Cork and Shanghai.
About the EU SME Centre
The EU SME Centre in Beijing provides a comprehensive range of hands-on support services to European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), getting them ready to do business in China. Our team of experts provides advice and support in four areas – business development, law, standards and conformity and human resources. Collaborating with external experts worldwide, the Centre converts valuable knowledge and experience into practical business tools and services easily accessible online.
From first-line advice to in-depth technical solutions, we offer services through Knowledge Centre, Advice Centre, Training Centre, SME Advocacy Platform and Hot-Desks. The Centre is funded by the European Union and implemented by a consortium of six partners – the China-Britain Business Council, the Benelux Chamber of Commerce, the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, the French Chamber of Commerce in China, the EUROCHAMBRES, and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. To learn more about the Centre, visit website www.eusmecentre.org.cn
About China International Technology Transfer Centre
The China International Technology Transfer Center (CITTC) is supported by the China Ministry of Science and Technology, Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and Haidian District Government. Located in China’s National Innovation Cluster in Zhongguancun, the CITTC is surrounded by universities, research institutions, VC, and PE, and is connected to more than 1000 research and development institutions and 7000 enterprises. To learn more about it, please click here. About Cork Chamber Cork Chamber is the leading business organisation in Cork supporting and representing the interests of approximately 1,000 businesses employing around 100,000 people in the region. For more see www.corkchamber.ie
About the Enterprise Europe Network
The Enterprise Europe Network was established by the European Commission in 2008. There are around 600 Enterprise Europe Network member offices across more than 60 countries which provide business support to SMEs. Members such as chambers of commerce and industry, technology centres and universities, regional development and innovation agencies bring together around 4500 local experts. The Network helps ambitious SMEs innovate and grow internationally, combining international business expertise with local knowledge to help them enter new markets, forge new commercial partnerships, access finance and grow faster.
For more information on the Enterprise Europe Network in Ireland, seewww.een-ireland.ie
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