Macao International Environment Cooperation Forum and Exhibition

(2012 MIECF)

“Green Economy – New Engine for Growth”

Convention and Exhibition Centre at The Venetian, Macao

29-31 March 2012

 Application deadline: 17th February 2012

(first come first serve)

The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is once again delighted to host a European Pavilion, thanks to EUBIP, at the 2012 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2012MIECF), which will take place on 29-31 March at The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, Macao.

The upcoming “2012 Macao International Environment Cooperation Forum and Exhibition” will be the 5th edition being held and its theme is “Green Economy – New Engine for Growth”. The 2012MIECF will welcome policymakers, government officials, key decision makers in the industry and other industry professionals to converge, discuss industry trends and negotiate deals. The 2012 MIECF conference will also feature top class speakers and focus on the various aspects of low carbon, sustainable cities, including Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Green Building, Green Mobility, Waste and Water Management Solutions and other related Services, that will attract industry players from all across the extended Pearl River Delta region and international markets.

Together with a series of other activities such as the Green Showcase, Green Forum, Green Business Co-operation Day, Green Gala & Networking Events, Green Matching, Technical Visits and Green Public Day, MIECF acts as an exchange platform for government entities, businesses and academic institutions to promote local, regional and international cooperation and to share the latest environmental technologies and solutions, and create business opportunities for regional development.

As this initiative is partially funded by the EU, our corporate exhibitors will enjoy an extremely competitive participation package: HK$ 2,800 ONLY for a fully equipped mini-booth with 3 nights FREE accommodation* and other benefits listed in the attachment.

* hotel to be confirmed by the Organizer. Eligible reservation period from 28-30 March 2012.

For more information about the participation package and application forms, please contact Ms. Pandora Sze by email pandora.sze@eurocham.com.hk or call at +852 2511 5133.

If you have any enquiries about the fair, please visit http://www.macaomiecf.com/miecf2012/

This event is funded by the European Union

The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is delighted to participate in the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) 2012 that will take place on 16 and 17 January in Hong Kong, thanks to EUBIP funding.

Our workshop will take place on Tuesday 17 January, 9.45am-10.45am. For this occasion, we are delighted to invite Mr Tilman Lueder, Head of Unit, Asset Management, Directorate General for Internal Market and Services, European Commission presenting the latest developments on EU rules covering investment funds.

This workshop will focus on preparations currently undertaken in the EU with an aim to ensure the smooth implementation of the Alternative Investment Fund Manager's Directive (AIFMD). An overview on the implementation measures currently being drafted, their scope and purpose will be provided as well as third country implications will also be assessed. Apart from the AIFMD, the workshop will discuss the new EU rules on venture capital and ongoing projects in relation to the UCITS rules.

Enclosed with the invite and Workshop details for your perusal.

For registration please contact Pandora Sze at pandora.sze@eurocham.com.hk or call +852-2511 5133

RSVP with your full name, company and job title before 16 January 2012

First come first serve. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.

 This event is funded by the European Union

INNOVATION THROUGH INFORMATION

"Creating innovative Apps and Services using open government data

and learning from the European digital community"

Wednesday 30 November 2011, 8h30-11h30

Venue:  Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Conference room

22F United Centre, 95 Queensway, Central

Admission fee: HK$250 members of European Chambers/ HK$280 non-members

Public, accessible and accurate information can create new products and businesses. The overall market size for Public Sector information (PSI) in the EU was estimated at 47 billion Euro in a recent study. Opening up and re-using of public sector information means using it in new ways by adding value to it, combining information from different sources, making mash-ups and new applications, both for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Public sector information has great economic potential: PSI re-use generates new businesses and jobs and provides consumers with more choice and more value for money.

The most promising areas for service innovation through PSI are:

-          Geographical and geospatial information

-          Meteorological information

-          Legal information

-          Environmental information

Examples include real time traffic information and bus timetables together with maps downloaded to smart phones. Public sector information has great economic potential: it generates new businesses and jobs and provides consumers with more choice and more value for money.

Join us for an interactive seminar to learn about European PSI practices, and how these could be applied in Hong Kong.

Agenda

8:00-8:30 Registration and breakfast

8:30-8:45 Welcome note by the European Chamber of Commerce

8:45-9:00     Data.one – Hong Kong’s Public Sector Information pilot scheme

Waltraut Ritter, Councillor, Hong Kong Foresight Centre

9:00-9:30 Service Innovation through PSI in Europe

The ePSIplatform.eu is dedicated to building networks, and facilitating knowledge exchange about PSI re-use. The platform is the EU’s prime source for news on both subjects. It also serves as knowledge exchange for business, government and developers on PSI practices and developments. Tom will also talk about current trends in the EU re-use market by showing a number of interesting examples of PSI re-use.

Tom Kronenburg, Consultant with Research and Consultancy firm Zenc, The Hague

9:30-10:00 Open Data Vienna

The City of Vienna has committed itself to the concept of Open Data – an open and transparent system that makes city data available to citizens for their further use. The city administration has thus decided to its open data records to the population, businesses and the scientific community. Relevant data range from statistics and geographic data or traffic and transport to economic figures

Thomas Joechler, Head of project development, Vienna online

10:00-10:30 Networking break

10:30-11:30 PSI - a business opportunity for information entrepreneurs in HK

Small, facilitated groups on different PSI topics:

Rapid prototyping of Apps for Hong Kong: Creating ideas based on public information in different fields:

Real-time traffic information, Cultural information, Geo-referenced information,          Environmental information

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Registration: If you would like to join this seminar, please email your name and contact details to info@hkforesight.org or call  +852-2806 0281.

The amount can be paid by cheque or cash.

THIS EVENT IS PARTLY FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION

 ”EUROPE: OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY”

 With Ben Jones,

Analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit

The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong was delighted to host a luncheon conference together with the Economist Intelligence Unit thanks to EUBIP funding; the event took place in Hong Kong on 23 November and Macau on 24 November and featured Ben Jones, analyst of the EIU in London as the guest speaker.

The presentation of Ben Jones focused on the crisis in the Eurozone and the possible scenarios on the mid and long term. According to the speaker, the real essence of the current crisis lies in politics and loss of confidence rather than on macro-economic grounds. Whereas the situation in some peripheral countries such as Greece is indeed alarming in terms of public debt and deficit, the EU as a whole is in a situation similar to the US or Japan when aggregating the national data of the various member states, and a sustainable recovery is hence realistic and achievable.

The major challenge faced by the Eurozone members is the need of promoting growth and restore competitiveness, while consolidating the public finances internally. Austerity measures inevitably translate into a break for growth and creation of employment, but are on the other hand necessary for ultimately reaching a healthy budget and a sustainable debt.

In his view, the European Monetary Union is an incomplete system, as “a union where countries issue debt in a currency they don’t control is potentially unstable”. Also, the raise of interest rate of the European Central Bank in a moment when economic growth is most urged can be counterproductive and should be cautiously evaluated.

However, and in spite of the negative speculation surrounding the Eurozone at the moment, a disintegration of the union is extremely unlikely and instead the current deficiencies can be a catalyst for a stronger union heading towards a single market.

For more information, please download the attached presentation.

For more information about the EIU, please click here.

This event was funded by the European Union

 ”EUROPE: OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY”

 With Ben Jones,

Analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit

The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong was delighted to host a luncheon conference together with the Economist Intelligence Unit thanks to EUBIP funding; the event took place in Hong Kong on 23 November and Macau on 24 November and featured Ben Jones, analyst of the EIU in London as the guest speaker.

The presentation of Ben Jones focused on the crisis in the Eurozone and the possible scenarios on the mid and long term. According to the speaker, the real essence of the current crisis lies in politics and loss of confidence rather than on macro-economic grounds. Whereas the situation in some peripheral countries such as Greece is indeed alarming in terms of public debt and deficit, the EU as a whole is in a situation similar to the US or Japan when aggregating the national data of the various member states, and a sustainable recovery is hence realistic and achievable.

The major challenge faced by the Eurozone members is the need of promoting growth and restore competitiveness, while consolidating the public finances internally. Austerity measures inevitably translate into a break for growth and creation of employment, but are on the other hand necessary for ultimately reaching a healthy budget and a sustainable debt.

In his view, the European Monetary Union is an incomplete system, as “a union where countries issue debt in a currency they don’t control is potentially unstable”. Also, the raise of interest rate of the European Central Bank in a moment when economic growth is most urged can be counterproductive and should be cautiously evaluated.

However, and in spite of the negative speculation surrounding the Eurozone at the moment, a disintegration of the union is extremely unlikely and instead the current deficiencies can be a catalyst for a stronger union heading towards a single market.

For more information, please download the attached presentation.

For more information about the EIU, please click here.

This event was funded by the European Union