The 2010 Macao International Environmental Co-Operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF), organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), is a high level, pro-active platform promoting Macao’s initiative on “Thinking Green, Going Clean and Living Cool” in the Pearl River Delta region and beyond. This exhibition is the “Green Gateway” for green resources, technology exchange and co-operation between China and international markets, particularly the EU.
A European 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.
MIECF presents a good opportunity to engage, interact and develop business relationships in the environmental services industry. A series of Green Gateway programs, including Green Forum, Green Showcase, Green Matching, Green Business Co-operation Day and Green Gala also offer strong opportunities to showcase the latest in green initiatives. MIECF spearheads and promotes greater local and international co-operation in the sharing of the latest green technologies and eco-solutions for critical environmental issues. Join us to showcase your products and solutions.
Please contact Shirley Lee on shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk or +852 2511 5133 for further details.
Click here for the full agenda or visit their website at www.macaomiecf.com/miecf2010/intro.html

The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, with funding from the European Commission through the European Union Business Information Programme (EUBIP)*, is delighted to work in co-operation with the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Institute of European Studies of Macau to organize a seminar on business opportunities with the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), a trade agreement between Macao and Mainland China signed in 2003 and continuously updated since that time. Details below:

Date: Thursday, 18th March 2010
Time: 16:00 to 19:00
Venue: MBSC, 19/F, China Civil Plaza, Alameda Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção No. 263, Macao
*Free of Charge

There will be three speakers at this major event, each offering their own perspective on CEPA:
1. Ms. Christina Morais, Head of External Economic Relations of the Macao Economic Department, who will give some short introductory remarks on CEPA, including the latest CEPA supplements.
2. Ms. Carlos Duque Simões, a European lawyer from DSL Limited in Macao, who will give his own overview, advantages, and constraints on CEPA.
3. Mr. O Man Peng of SIM Coffee Factory, a European factory specializing in coffee preparation and distribution based in Macao, that has directly benefited from CEPA.

Ms. Echo Chan, Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, will deliver the opening remarks.

Information on CEPA has been well-disseminated by the local government. However, there is still limited participation in CEPA by European-funded companies and other international firms in Macao. This seminar brings together a government representative to explain how your firm can take advantage of CEPA, whilst our European lawyer and private enterprise spokespersons share their experiences to demonstrate how you can develop your business through CEPA.

Places are limited for this event, and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please contact Shirley Lee at shirley.lee@eurocham.com.hk or telephone +852 2511 5133 (HK), or Violet Ng at violet@ieem.org.mo and +853 2871 3338 (MC), should you wish to attend or have any further enquiries.

We are delighted to inform members that the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong have jointly invited Ms Helena König, Head of Unit, Trade Directorate – General, European Commission, to address the local business community on 17 March 2010.

Date: Wednesday 17 March 2010
Time: 12:30 – 14:00
Venue: Chamber Theatre, 22/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong
Cost: Members HK$100; Non-Members HK$200

At the Luncheon, Ms König will share her views on how EU trade policy is performing in response to the financial crisis and its implications. She will conclude her speech by giving an outlook on what EU trade policy after the Lisbon Treaty will look like.

As the Unit Head of the Trade Directorate – General of the European Commission, Ms König is responsible for bilateral relations with the Far East including China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Mongolia. She has dealt extensively with the conception and implementation of the strategy in relation to trade dossiers for China and Japan, covering all aspects of EU trade policy. Ms König is also in charge of setting up and coordinating the High Level Economic and Trade dialogue and EU China PCA negotiations.

Seats are limited, register today to attend this special luncheon. Submit your registration form by 8 March 2010 to secure seats. You may also register online at www.chamber.org.hk. For details, please contact Ms Rachel Lau at +852 2823 1277.

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.