On 5 December, the EU SME Centre, together with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, organised an SME community gathering in Guangzhou to discuss policy updates and outlook in the GBA.
The event opened with remarks from Fabian Blake, Vice Chairman of the European Chamber South China Board, highlighting the ongoing support provided to help SMEs identify and navigate opportunities. EU SME Centre Team Lead Liam Jia then presented the services available to European SMEs in the Chinese market, and updated participants on recent policy developments and major takeaways from the 2024 Understanding China Conference.
The presentation was followed by a panel discussion around the theme “Tackling 2024 Challenges and Paving the Way for 2025”, moderated by Danica Mai, Vice Chair of the European Chamber SME Forum. Panelists Fabian Blake, Daisy Yang, and Jeremy Sargent OBE discussed how SMEs can make use of innovative tech solutions to streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth.
The panel exchanged views on the heightened competition in several industries, notably in F&B, as well as geopolitical uncertainty leading many business managers to adopt a wait-and-see approach regarding business expansion.
Key topics discussed also included challenges such as HR disputes and conflict resolution, IPR protection issues, and the recurring problem of late payments, as well as how SMEs can seize existing opportunities in the GBA.
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