The European Chamber of Commerce and the European Union Business Information Programme* are delighted to announce their participation in the seminar European Financial Institutions of Asia – Leveling the Regulatory Maze, to take place at the Asian Financial Forum on Thursday, 21st January 2010. The details are:

Exhibition:Asian Financial Forum
Location: Hall 5F&5G, Level 5,Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre,1 Expo Drive,Wanchai,Hong Kong
Date: Thursday 21st January 2010
Time: 16:00-17:15
Entrance Fee:Free of charge

During this address, Mr. Emil Paulis, Director responsible for Financial Services Policy & Financial Markets at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Internal Market and Services (DG MARKT) will cover a variety of critical issues, including:

• An introduction to the European Commission and its financial regulation processes.
• The latest update on UCITS, alternative directives and other financial regulatory issues, including an outline of the next steps and timetables.
• An emphasis that Europe remains ‘open for business’ with the Asian investment management industry.
• An underlining of Europe’s commitment to on-going engagement with its Asian partners.

Offering their own opening remarks during this seminar will be Mr. Robert Agnew of Matrix Services and Mr. Rory Gallaher of the Alternative Investment Management Association who, among other subjects, will touch on the provisions affecting marketing by Hong Kong managers of their funds to European investors, restrictions on the delegation of portfolio management from Europe to Hong Kong, the requirements necessary to use an EU-based depositary, and other key concerns of the Asian financial services industry.

Please go to http://www.asianfinancialforum.com/eng/workshops/workshops.htm for further information on other workshops available on the day, or contact Shirley Lee at shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk or +852 2511 5133 for any enquiries.

Breakfast Meeting and Panel Discussion

The European Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the Hong Kong Business Coalition on the Environment (BCE), InterCham, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and Civic Exchange to organise a Post-COP15 breakfast session on Thursday, 28 January 2010.

Date: Thursday 28 January 2010
Time: Registration from 7.45am Session Starts 8.00am and ends at approximately 10.00am
Venue: Oasis Room, 8/F Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Cost: Members HK$300; Non-Members HK$400 (includes hot breakfast)

This session will take the form of an address by Mr Simon Reddy, Executive Director of C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, and responsible for setting up and running a global network of cities committed to reducing gas emissions, focusing on the way forward for global efforts in managing climate change.

The second part of this important session will be a panel discussion with Hong Kong delegates who were at the COP15 meeting in December 2009.

Our Panel Moderator is Christine Loh, Chief Executive of Civic Exchange, and she will be joined by Dr Jeanne Ng, Environmental Director – Group Affairs, CLP Holdings and Dr Glenn Frommer, Head of Sustainability, MTR Corporation, who will share their insights on possible directions for Hong Kong in carbon reduction and developing a low carbon economy.

Despite the lack of a binding global carbon framework at COP15, global and local efforts are continuing on finding a more satisfactory solution for managing climate change. Through this session, the BCE aims to forge common understanding and unite supporters in the call for actions by the government and stakeholders.

Please join us to add your voice! Please contact shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk or +852 2511 5133 for further details and payment methods.

The European Chamber of Commerce and the European Union Business Information Programme are delighted to announce their participation in the seminar Latest Product Safety Directives of the Toy Industry, to take place at the HKTDC Toy & Games Fair, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, on January 13th.

Date: Wednesday, January 13th
Time: 10:00a.m.-12:30p.m.
Location: HKTDC Toy & Games Fair, Room N101, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Present will be Ms. Maureen Logghe of the European Commission’s DG Enterprise & Industry International Regulatory Agreements, Toy Safety, & CSR Department, a renowned expert on toy safety issues, who will talk in detail about the new European Commission’s Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC. For more information on this Directive, which could have serious implications for toy manufacturers and exporters in Asia, please go to http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/documents/directives/.

Entrance to this seminar, and all others, is free, and is on a first-come, first-served basis. To avoid disappointment, please go to http://hktoyfair.hktdc.com/evt_schdt/event.htm to register.

Should you have any further enquiries, please contact Shirley Lee at shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk, or telephone +852 2511 5133.

On January 13th 2010, The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is co-hosting a seminar on EU Product Safety Legislation with Mr. Luis Montoya, Head of Unit for International Regulatory Agreements, Toy Safety, and CSR at the European Commission’s DG Enterprise & Industry.

Ms. Maureen Logghe will address a number of key issues, including EU market safety legislation for electrical, electronic, mechanical, and toy products; new legislative framework issues (NLF); as well as outlining the extent of regulatory co-operation the EU has with major economies, particularly China.

Details are:

Date: Monday, January 13th 2010
Time: 15:00-16:45
Location: French Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, 21/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
Price: National Chamber Member HK$100
A light refreshement will also be provided

DG Enterprise & Industry employs over 1000 people to ensure that EU policies contribute to the sustainable competitiveness of EU enterprises and facilitates job creation and sustainable economic growth. It has the task of ensuring that the single market for goods runs smoothly and is a major contributor to the implementation of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. DG Enterprise pays particular attention to the needs of the manufacturing industry and small and medium-sized enterprises.

This is a high quality, interactive and focused seminar, around 20 seats are available. Professionals from sourcing and product safety-related fields are welcomed. Register today to avoid disappointment! Please contact shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk or +852 2511 5133 for further details.

On December 2nd 2009, the European Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong held a highly-successful seminar on the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), a free trade agreement between Hong Kong and Mainland China first initiated in 2003 and continuously updated since that time.

CEPA opens up huge markets for Hong Kong goods and services, greatly enhancing the already close economic cooperation and integration between the Mainland and Hong Kong. However, there is still limited EU participation in CEPA. There has been a general lack of opportunities for European firms themselves to express to a wide audience how they have been able to take advantage of this agreement. A lack of understanding about CEPA VI, the latest supplement signed in May 2009 and implemented in October of this year, has also hampered progress.

Over 55 people attended the seminar, held at the law firms Pinsent Masons. Both the private and public sector were well-represented, which is planned to be held annually in order to continue to foster debate on CEPA and further understanding of new supplements.

Three speakers made presentations, all offering their own views on CEPA:
1 Ms. Ellen Choy, Assistant Director-General of the Hong Kong Trade & Industry Department, who gave an overview of the framework, benefits, and related statistics on CEPA.
2 Mr. Norman Leung, Corporate Lawyer and Legal Director at Pinsent Masons Hong Kong, who gave an overview of CEPA’s advantages and constraints, as well as further detail on the CEPA VI supplement, which came into force in October 2009.
3 Mr. Helmuth Hennig of Jebsen, a marketing and distribution organisation with seven offices in China, who gave an overview of his own experiences in dealing with CEPA, and how European businesses can fully prepare themselves to take full advantage of it.

After the presentations, the floor opened for a lively Q&A session.
The Hong Kong government has stated that it wishes to promote more participation by European companies in CEPA. The results of this discussion will therefore be passed on to the Hong Kong government for its drafting of the new CEPA supplement for 2010.

For further information, please contact Shirley Lee at shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk.
In order to view Ms. Ellen Choy’s presentation, please click here.
In order to view Mr. Norman Leung’s presentation, please click here.
In order to view Mr. Helmuth Hennig’s presentation, please click here.

Please contact Shirley Lee on shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk or +852 2511 5133
Click here for the full agenda or visit their website at http://www.ecoexpoasia.com

According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), it is estimated that the global market for environmental protection products and services will be worth US$600 billion by the year 2010.

As global and domestic environmental challenges abound, numerous business opportunities exist on every level, ranging from effectively managing air quality to ensuring the sustainable development of renewable energy resources. Eco Expo Asia is the foremost opportunity to take advantage of the fast growing Chinese mainland and South East Asia markets. The fair also boasts overwhelming support from government associations and leading international enterprises.

In 2008, over 40% of 6,000 visitors came from 88 countries and regions. 123 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions had the opportunity to meet potential business partners from around the globe.

Join the EUBIP European Pavilion at Eco Expo Asia to build new business networks and opportunities in the Greater China and South East Asia region. The Pavilion is open to European companies based in Hong Kong, European Chambers of Commerce and European Trade Commissions.

Please contact Shirley Lee on shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk or +852 2511 5133
Click here for the full agenda or visit their website at http://www.mif.com.mo/mif2009/pt/main.php

Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), is an economic and trade fair created to promote international co-operation and exchange in investment and trade. It also serves as a prestigious annual event among the business sectors in Macao.

An EU Pavilion will be created to cater for European companies, Chambers and Consulates. There is still time to join the EU Delegation. Or simply join us for a coffee and a chat about business-matching opportunities.

Due to Macao’s close regional ties, as well as with Portuguese-speaking countries and other international links, MIF aims to promote interactive trade and investment opportunities through the establishment of business partnerships, professional solutions, project-matching sessions, investment negotiations and co-operative agreements, in order to foster the integration of funds, resources, markets and technologies, and takes a further step to advance entrepreneurial co-operation in multiple domains.

Thank you for our guests who have participated in the IP Seminar 2009.
We are happy to share the presentations from the speakers for each sessions. Hope all of you would find it helpful. Please click here for further details.