On 6 August 2024, the European Chamber participated in the Shenzhen Foreign-invested Enterprises Symposium, represented by Ms Miya Yao, the Chamber’s Marketing and Communicating Coordinator. Key Shenzhen officials from the Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission included Ms Chen Yumin, Deputy Director of the Office of Opening Up, and Mr Xiong Min, First-Level Principal Staff Member of the same office.
At the symposium, Ms Yao highlighted the need for clear regulatory frameworks and streamlined processes, noting the difficulties European companies face in obtaining qualifications and permits. She emphasised the adoption of international standards to encourage innovation and fair competition. Yao also presented findings from the Chamber’s report Carbon Neutrality, noting European companies’ reliance on renewable energy for decarbonisation. While some SMEs use green certificates, large manufacturers prefer direct procurement of green energy. In Shenzhen, large foreign-invested enterprises struggle to fully meet expectations despite adopting green energy. SMEs face additional hurdles, like restrictions on photovoltaic installations, rising energy costs, and potential shortages, impacting competitiveness, especially for products targeting European and American markets.
On the topic of government procurement, Yao called for more inclusive and transparent practices to ensure equal opportunities for foreign-invested enterprises. The Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission requested more examples of procurement challenges and expressed interest in understanding green power purchase rules, showing a commitment to sustainable development.
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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