Exploiting China’s High-end Anti-pollution Mask Market

Our Partners

The EU SME Centre has a network of partners located throughout Europe and China, sharing a common goal of facilitating trade and assisting companies in their internationalisation plans. You will find here all the organisations that are official partners of the EU SME Centre.

Our Partners

AEP – Associação Empresarial de Portugal

Headquartered in the city of Porto, AEP is the largest business association and chamber of commerce and industry in Portugal. AEP is an association run by business owners, for business owners, to harness the power of business potential.AEP is active in promoting, supporting and encouraging sustainable, profitable business growth. Especially through its activity to drive internationalisation and external promotion, AEP has been continually developing external promotion activities, including business missions, collective participation in international fairs and exhibitions of products.For more than 30 years, AEP has acted in more than 85 foreign markets in Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Middle East, United States and Canada, carrying out over 700 actions involving around 7000 companies.Over the years, AEP has become a leader in the support of the internationalisation strategy of Portuguese companies. Proof of this, since 2015, AEP has been part of the Enterprise Europe Network, the world’s largest support network for SMEs and startups with international ambitions, active in more than 40 countries, bringing together around 450 member organisations.The EEN is a very relevant internationalisation driver in Europe, supporting and connecting companies, bringing together firms to build new relationships, share best practices, foster new opportunities and provide practical support to help businesses trade globally.

Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. We work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment.

Service Providers

Small and medium-sized enterprises may have difficulty in finding service providers that understand their specific needs. You will find here our selection of companies with a track-record of working with SMEs in the Chinese market.

Service Providers

Seichin Consulting

Established in 2020 and headquartered in the Netherlands, Seichin Consulting is a service provider passionate about making a practical difference in the day-to-day work of international companies by solving cross-cultural and trade related misunderstandings, using analytics.When people from different cultures work together, they can create incredible synergies. However, when cultural clashes occur, they can lead to communication breakdowns and conflict. Intercultural management is the process of understanding and managing the dynamics between people from different cultures in order to achieve the positive outcomesSeichin Consulting is a consulting firm for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises seeking new opportunities when doing business abroad, getting them ready to do business in global markets like China. Doing business abroad, or even within a country is about bridging gaps and building strong business relationships with (global) customers . Every person or company has a story to tell. A story we listen to.Services we provide are about being ‘compliant’ and/or complying with the laws and regulations in global markets : Binding Tariff Information (BTI), necessary for product development;Binding Origin Information (BOI) necessary for determining the origin of goods;Interpreting and implementing trade agreements to support decision making (RoO, Trade in services, S&CM, SPS, TBT, Market access)Interpreting and implement international legislation to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.ICC Incoterms consultationDenied party screeningSanction and embargo checks on destination and transit countriesExport control classification of the goodsApplying for licenses for the export ,technical assistance and transit of so-called strategic goods (dual-use and military goods).Training and workshops (intercultural & international management)We assist EU business of all sizes expand and compete in global markets.Contact persons in Europe:Richard LoomansFounder and Managing Director (Europe)Phone: +31 (0) 619727314Languages : English, Dutch, GermanHaijie ZhouCorporate & International Relations Manager (Germany/China)Phone: +49 176 22700534Languages : German, Italian, Chinese (Mandarin)

VIRTUARCH

VIRTUARCH is an international award-winning Architecture, Interior Design and Project Management company with offices in China, Thailand and Switzerland specialized in workplaces (Industrial Buildings, R&D Facilities, Offices and Headquarter Buildings), as well as in the field of education (Kindergartens, Schools, Universities Vocational Training Centers, Adult Education). With over 20 years of experience, we have successfully designed and realized more than 500 projects in China and Asia for Multinational Corporations and Small and Medium-Sized Companies, often being Market Leaders and Hidden Champions in their fields.

Exploiting China’s High-end Anti-pollution Mask Market

Cambridge Mask Co

Industry|Healthcare
Expertise| Business Development

Christopher Dobbing, a young entrepreneur from the United Kingdom, launched his anti-pollution mask business in China in 2013. As the Founder and CEO of Cambridge Mask Co, the company targets the high-end anti-pollution mask market. Now selling masks through a number of local hospitals, schools, corporations and retailers around the world, Chris has successfully diversified his distribution channels both online and offline.

In his preparation to set up a company in China, Chris used the EU SME Centre’s consultation service to understand the company registration process and certifications needed to sell his masks on the China market. The Centre also provided him free temporary office space while he was looking for affordable offices in Beijing.

As to the challenges faced by European SMEs in China, Chris put recruiting and retaining staff as the most pressing one. Instead of having three underperforming staff, Chris suggested SMEs invest more in the most dedicated one.

The EU SME Centre was a valuable resource to help me accelerate my start up business selling anti-pollution face masks in China. Having a professional looking space to hold meetings in central Beijing is great, and the legal advice and information guides have proved to be really useful at this key point in setting up here. I would highly recommend the Centre to any small business looking to get started here.

Christopher Dobbing, Founder and CEO, Cambridge Mask Co

Visit Cambridge Mask Co

Advice

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Self-Diagnosis Tool

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SME Position Paper 2024/2025

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Navigating the Chinese Market: Insights and Strategies

Stream the Sessions of the 2023 Understanding China Conference

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