The Chinese market can present significant potential for European small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in the food and beverage sector. Regional specialities such as seafood products, wines, and other traditional goods have the potential to appeal to affluent, urban Chinese consumers who are seeking premium, authentic, and high-quality imported goods. However, exporting to China requires navigating a complex business environment with strict regulatory requirements, intellectual property considerations and strong domestic competition.
The session will provide practical insights into the structure and characteristics of the Chinese market and outline the main commercial channels available, from e-commerce platforms to brick-and-mortar retail, assessing their respective advantages and limitations. It will also highlight the importance of taking early action to protect a company’s intellectual property rights.
The event will be conducted in English. It is open, free of charge, to all SMEs from EU Member States and countries participating in the Single Market Programme.
Agenda
Tuesday 28 April (CEST)
11:00–11:10
Opening remarks Introduction by the EU SME Centre and Clusaga
11:10–11:35
General Presentation of the Chinese Market David Lavorel, Business Advisor, EU SME Centre
11:35–12:00
China’s F&B Market David Lavorel, Business Advisor, EU SME Centre
12:00–12:20
IPR Protection in China Helika Jürgenson, Project Manager, China IP SME Helpdesk
12:20–12:30
Q&A session
About the Speakers
David Lavorel
Business Advisor, EU SME Centre
As the Business Advisor of the EU SME Centre, David Lavorel advises European SMEs on how to access opportunities and mitigate risks in the Chinese market.
A seasoned advisor with extensive experience on China-related matters, he has spent most of the past 30 years in China. He worked for a French electric utility company, a European chemical group, the Trade section of the French Embassy in Beijing and a leading European Intellectual Property Law firm. In 2010, he was selected by the European Commission and a consortium of chambers of commerce to launch the EU SME Centre Phase I.
During his career, he has advised hundreds of SMEs on how to approach the Chinese market.
Helika Jürgenson
China IP SME Helpdesk Project Manager
Helika Jürgenson is the Project Manager of China IPR SME Helpdesk, a project funded by the European Union and designed to help European SMEs with intellectual property rights issues when doing business in China.
She has a strong project management background, having worked as a Project Manager and Project Coordinator on EU-funded projects in Development Solutions Europe Ltd. for over 3 years, prior to joining the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. Helika has been working for the China IP SME Helpdesk under Development Solutions in various roles since 2016 and has written several short articles on IP issues, published on the Helpdesk website as well as delivered keynote speeches at various IP-related conferences and forums. She holds a master’s degree in international studies with the focus on International Law from Aarhus University in Denmark.
