We are delighted to invite you to this exclusive business workshop which aims to let you understand the latest developments in China’s socio-economic ecosystem and to provide you with practical insights to develop your business within China’s fast changing internal and international situation.
This event is co-organized by the Swiss Centers, the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), China Integrated and the University of St. Gallen (FIM-HSG), with the support of Microcity, the Neuchâtel Chamber of Commerce (CNCI) and the Swiss-Chinese Association - French Speaking Region (SRSSC).
If the last few years have been disruptive, 2022 will probably be remembered as a turning point for China and international companies’ activities in the world second economy.
Many new questions, uncertainties or even doubts arise about the opportunities and risks that China may hold for foreign companies and investors.
Be it because of supply chain related concerns, Beijing's unending Zero-Covid policies, the uncertainties related to the sanctions put in place by the EU and the USA, China’s diplomatic alignment with Russia, the new data and cyber security laws or the ideological direction that the country is taking under a Chinese president enjoying indisputable and undisputed power, many foreign companies are wondering how they should change what they are doing in China.
It is from this perspective and based on the need of many companies to reassess their China strategy that we have designed a program to facilitate your understanding of what to expect from China in the coming years and to exchange with fellow managers on the subject.
The experience and practical expertise we have accumulated over the last 30 years while supporting more than 400 companies and establishing over 100 companies in China combined with an interactive workshop format will equip each participant with a comprehensive view and practical approach to assess and further develop their business in China.
The day will be divided into two parts. First, carefully selected specialists will share with you their most recent observations and analyses. Question and answer sessions will help clarify and deepen key topics.
Then, to provide a concrete and specific perspective to the elements discussed at the beginning of the day, up to three companies will explain their own experience and challenges related to their China strategy. This will allow all participants to compare their approaches and reflect on their challenges arising from the new unfolding situation in China.
In
order to ensure high value exchanges between all participants, participation is
limited to 25 companies and C-level representatives of participating companies.
Programm Details
- Zero-COVID policy – how and when can it end? What growth can we expect in China in the coming years
- How much is China decoupling on its own terms: “dual circulation” and localization
- International geopolitical situation: what to expect from a China point of view and what impact on Swiss companies
- Preview of the 2023 Swiss Business in China Survey results
- Accessing the market: local production or import-export?
- R&D investment: made in China for China?
- Supply chain: will China remain the workshop of the world?
- HR decoupling: to manage or not to manage?
Romain Barrabas
China Market Access Manager of the Swiss Centers
Graduating in 2013 with a Multidisciplinary Master in Asian Studies (University of Geneva, Graduate Institute Geneva), Romain is currently based in Switzerland where he works for the Swiss Centers, a non-profit organization that has been supporting Swiss companies wishing to expand into China for over 20 years.
He spent most of the last decade in China: first in Nanjing to perfect his Mandarin and then in Shanghai in event management and communication for the watch manufacturer Breguet. He then spent more than 6 years in Beijing, at the Swiss Chamber of Commerce (SwissCham Beijing) as Marketing & Events Manager and then General Manager. Romain was then employed by the Embassy of Switzerland as Deputy Head of the Culture & Media Section. Finally, he chaired the Swiss School of Beijing for more than 3 years where he still serves as a member of the Board of Directors.
In Switzerland, he has held positions in communication and sales for the watch brands Baume & Mercier and Girard-Perregaux.
Jürg Burri
Ambassador of Switzerland to People's Republic of China, Mongolia and DPRK
Jean-Jacques de Dardel
President, Swiss Centers Foundation
Tomas Casas i Klett
Director of the China Competence Center at the University of St.Gallen
Dr. Casas i Klett is a permanent faculty at the University of St.Gallen and the Director of the China Competence Center (CCC) at the Research Institute for International Management (FIM-HSG). He is also a visiting professor at universities in China, including the Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management (SEM) or Fudan University’s School of Management. His research on sustainable value creation has seen him advance the Elite Quality Index (EQx) which places the agency of elites at the center of structural reform initiatives. Other research areas of interest include China’s economy and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), team performance (e.g., see China team myths), free-trade agreements (FTAs), or narrative economics.
Nicolas Musy
Founder of the Swiss Centers & Founding Partner of China Integrated
Nicolas Musy holds a MSc. in Physics Engineering from the EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne). He has won his university’s first Special Alumni Award for demonstrating outstanding innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. He has been responsible to establish EPFL’s presence in China and his Alma Mater cooperation with Chinese top universities and the Chinese Academy of Science. In addition, he developed and ran the 2-week China Module of the EPFL EMBA in entrepreneurship.
Exclusively involved in China trade, investment, research, strategy and project management, he has resided in the Shanghai area since 1988. He founded the Swiss Centers, co-founded the first Swiss industrial SME in China, Suzhou 2-ply Co. Ltd and is the Managing Director of LX Precision. As Founding Partner of China Integrated (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Nicolas has successfully supported a number of multinationals and over 100 mid-sized companies for their legal set-up, market entry, operations management, business acquisition, conflict resolution and restructuring.
Fedor Poskriakov
Partner at Lenz & Staehelin
Felix Sutter
President, Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commere (SCCC)
Clarisse von Wunschheim
Practicing lawyer and partner at the law firm Altenburger with offices in Zurich, Geneva and Lugano
Dr Clarisse von Wunschheim is Partner at Altenburger and the head of its China-Switzerland Business Advisory Services.
Born in Mexico, raised up in Germany and Switzerland and having spent 9 years living and working in Beijing, Clarisse is specialized in international and cross-cultural dispute resolution, in particular international arbitration and commercial mediation and with a focus on the European and Chinese market. Her main areas of practice include general contract law, agency and distribution, sales, joint ventures as well as other forms of foreign investment.
Clarisse is described by Who's Who Legal as a "fast, smart and solution-oriented lawyer" and is particularly appreciated by her clients and peers for her strategic thinking and inspirational mindset.
Zhen Xiao
CEO of the Swiss Centers
Zhen Xiao obtained his engineering education from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He then worked in Singapore and in Switzerland for more than 20 years as an engineer, researcher, and manager. He has been working with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne from 2005 to 2012 as China Relation Coordinator. Over the past 10 years, he has supported and advised many Swiss companies in business development in China, and successfully expanded the Swiss Centers with new facilities and service.
Price:
Whole day (including flying lunch + afterwork)
Member*: CHF 700. // CHF 600.- for other participants of the same company
Non-member: CHF 850. // CHF 750.- for other participants of the same company
On request, it is possible to stay overnight at a preferential price. If you have an interest, please contact us directly.
Applicable to all members of: the Swiss Centers, SCCC, SRSSC, Microcity and the CNCI. Please mention clearly if you are affiliated to one of these organizations.
The seminar will be limited to 25 people and will be confirmed upon the reception of the payment.
Please send an E-mail to Mr. Romain BARRABAS, China Market Access Manager of the Swiss Centers by indicating the following information: Full name, Company name, Job title, Email address, Phone number.