The EU SME Centre and European Chamber South China Chapter are pleased to invite European SMEs to take part in the EU-China Trade & Investment Debriefing and Discussion. The event will be held on the morning of Tuesday 18 February in Guangzhou.
During the event, Davide Follador, Trade Section Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union to China, will provide an update on EU-China trade relations, the global trade outlook, and offer deep insights into how these developments impact European businesses in China. Francine Hadjisotiriou, General Manager of the European Chamber South China Chapter, will introduce the EU SME Centre, the business environment for EU SMEs in South China, and key advocacy points from the SME forum.
This event will provide European businesses with a valuable opportunity to gain key business insights, listen to an inspiring keynote address, engage in meaningful Q&A sessions, and expand their network within the South China business community.
Please note that this event will be conducted in English and will be off the record. This is an offline event with limited onsite seating (15ppl) to be reserved on a first-come-first served basis.
Agenda (CST)
10:00–10:30
Registration and networking
10:30–10:35
Opening remarks Fabian Blake, Vice Chairman of the European Chamber South China Chapter
10:35–11:00
EU-China Trade and Investment Relations Davide Follador, Trade Section Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Union to China
11:00–11:15
Sharing about the EU SME Centre and the SME Forum in South China Francine Hadjisotiriou, General Manager of the European Chamber South China Chapter
11:15–12:00
Q&A session
Registration
Deadline Please complete your registration by 6:00 p.m. on 14 February 2025.
Information needed Your company name, personal name, title (both in Chinese and English), mobile number, and email address are kindly needed for registration.
Email registration Register by sending an email to Fennie Kan(gz.ga@europeanchamber.com.cn) with your information. The registration is complete only when a confirmation letter is sent to your email.
Event fee Members of the European Chamber Union of Commerce in China: Free of charge. Non members: 500 RMB.
Cancellation policy
If you cannot attend the event for which you have registered, please cancel your registration no later than one business day prior to the event. If you fail to notify us of your cancellation in a timely fashion, you will be charged for event costs.
To cancel, you can: 1) contact Fennie Kan(gz.ga@europeanchamber.com.cn), or 2) cancel online if you registered for the event through the website of the European Chamber.
Disclaimer
Please note that the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China might take photographs from the event and post these on its public web-page or social media platforms in order to create awareness of these events. By attending this event, you consent to European Union Chamber of Commerce in China taking and using such photographs as described above.
Speakers
Fabian Blake
Chairman, European Chamber South China Board; Founder and Director, SynaXis
Fabian Blake is a Belgian national who founded SynaXis with the vision to combine Western expertise with Asian efficiency and innovation. “Reloading” as such the Partnerships that are proven beneficial for major global economies.
Prior to launching his Innovative venture, Fabian has resided and worked in South China since 2008 and has played a pivotal role in the operational development of major corporations like ETEX Group and successfully managed smaller business units specialising in engineering and manufacturing services like AMS Group, offering value-added solutions to a broad Western clientele.
Furthermore, Fabian has also served as a Member of the Board of the Benelux Chamber of Commerce from 2013 to 2016. His extensive experience and dedication to the industry make him a valuable asset to both SynaXis and the broader business community.
Davide Follador
Trade Section Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to China
Davide Follador is a seasoned trade diplomat currently posted at the Delegation of the European Union in Beijing. His work focuses on fostering trade and investment relations with China, with a particular emphasis on foreign direct investment (FDI) and market access for European companies operating in China. Before his current posting, Davide honed his expertise in trade policy while working at the Directorate General for Trade (DG TRADE) in Brussels and brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors in China.
Francine Hadjisotiriou
General Manager, European Chamber South China Chapter
Francine Hadjisotiriou is the General Manager of the European Chamber South China Chapter where she manages the Guangzhou and Shenzhen office operations.
She has 30 years’ experience in B to B services of which more than 20 spent in Asia. After working in Tokyo, Japan, for more than three years in the credit-insurance company, she joined the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and established the Nanjing Chapter in early 2004. Two and half years later, she was transferred to the South China chapter to manage and develop the regional chapter by opening the Guangzhou and Shenzhen offices. She also mentors the chapters of Nanjing, Shenyang, Southwest China, Tianjin and the Shandong project. In her role, she is committed to providing effective communication and lobbying channels for EU companies, summarising the main points of China’s current business and market situation for members, and providing analysis of policies and macroeconomic developments.
