On January 17, 2023, a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce in China led by President Paolo Bazzoni traveled to Tianjin for a two-day mission that led to the signing of two important memorandums of understanding and the further strengthening of the chamber's presence in the area, with the opening of a new office to be made official in the second quarter of this year.

As the most important port in northern China and a key junction point of the enlarged area that also includes Beijing and Hebei province, the municipality has for years been a very fertile ground for promotional activities that span a wide range of sectors, from mechanics to automotive, via textiles, aviation, F&B and consulting services.

Interest in Italy in this area has been growing significantly in recent years, with a clear desire on the part of Tianjin authorities to make the municipality an important center for Italian companies and Made in Italy.

With the opening of a new office in the Tianjin area, the eighth in all of China, the CCIC - already active for years in supporting businesses and specialized professionals - aims to further enhance the various business opportunities that exist for our companies already located and for those that have plans to develop in this market, becoming an important reference point also for Italian SMEs not yet present.

The first stop of the mission was the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Exhibition Center, where the CICC delegation composed of President Paolo Bazzoni, CICC Councillor for North China Fabio Antonello, Secretary General Renzo Isler, and the management of the Beijing CICC Office went for an initial brief exploratory visit. They were welcomed on arrival by Zhao Xuesen, Vice President of the Administrative Committee of the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone. The delegation then reached the Italian SME Industrial Park in Tianjin, within which the new office of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China will be located, which will also serve as a hub for Italian SME desks on the model of what has already been implemented in other territories.

Italian Chamber of Commerce delegation visited Tianjin FTZ Exhibition Center

Italian Chamber of Commerce Tianjin Office Reserved Space

The delegation was next received by government officials, including Hong Shicong, Director and Party Secretary of the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee.

At the end of the reception, two important MOUs were signed: the first with Deputy Director Liu Zhiyong, Chief Accountant of the Municipal Bureau of Commerce. The second one was signed with Zhao Xuesen, Deputy Director of Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee.（Click to view the official press release https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/cOpIf9Z0PpqLxA6YzAQWpA)

These agreements will facilitate the establishment of Italian companies and projects in a region with great potential, with practical support, services and incentives from their peers, which will further increase the visibility of the Italian SME Industrial Park in Tianjin and thus the rich and diverse supply of Italian companies in the region.

The first day of the visit the delegation concluded with a factory visit to Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co. The delegation was received by Mirko Turrina, General Manager, who himself is the Deputy Coordinator of the Machinery Working Group. The company, founded in Milan in 1850, is a multinational group of companies with eight production plants worldwide. The Tianjin branch is a manufacturing and commercial center for all of Asia, with core competencies in aseptic bulk packaging. The company, located in the Port Free Trade Zone, has undertaken a major €15 million expansion project at its Tianjin branch in 2021.

On the second day of the visit the delegation had a live meeting with Italian companies in the industrial sector at the Cinema Nova Paradiso. The New Paradise Cinema is a famous landmark located in an Italian style district, built in 1902 and today an important international platform for economic and cultural exchanges between Italy and China. The core of the exchange was the organization of a road show in Tianjin, aimed at highlighting the unexplored and little-known potential of North China, emphasizing the opportunities and facilities available, with the assistance of a working group, for entrepreneurs intending to invest in the region. Among the companies present at the meeting were: Sim Sino-Italian (Tianjin) Technology Co., Ltd; Gollier (Tianjin) Packaging Co., Ltd; Regina (Tianjin) Chain Co.

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce delegation then held informal meetings with the Chinese and Italian business community in Tianjin at the Venice Italian Restaurant Bar.

The delegation then went on to meet with Tian Qiang, Vice Mayor of Hebei District, Zhang Ping, Director of Hebei District Business Bureau, and Li Yunfei, Chairman of Tianjin Follett Investment Management Group. During the conversation, the two sides discussed the promotion of the Italian Products Exhibition Center located in the new Paradise Cinema. The center will serve as the main showcase and sales channel for Made in Italy products. Among the topics talked about was also the Tianjin Design Week, an important initiative of the regional organization: the 10th edition of the Design Week will take place in the second quarter of this year in the Italian style district.

The visit ended with a meeting with Nankai University, aimed at following up on the cooperation agreement signed with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China at the end of 2022. Participants included Professor Yang Lin, head of the University's Italian Department and deputy director of the Regional Center for Country Studies, and Letizia Vallini, professor of Italian.

（Link to the original article： https://www.cameraitacina.com/cn/xinwen/yi-da-li-shang-hui-zai-tian-jin-da-cheng-xin-guan-fang-xie-yi)