On March 28, 2023, the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, led by President Paolo Bazzoni, went on a mission to Tianjin together with the Embassy of Italy in the People's Republic of China-represented by First Counselor Marco Midolo, Head of the Economic and Commercial Office-and the ICE Agency-represented by Gianpaolo Bruno, Director of the Beijing Office and Coordinator of the China and Mongolia Offices -, for important actions in the territory aimed at strengthening the Chamber presence in a highly strategic area for Italian business in China and further increase the qualitative and quantitative penetration of Italian investments there, interacting with our partners and Italian companies already present in the market.

1. New CCIC Office in Tianjin opened, the eighth in China.

On the morning of March 28, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China inaugurated its new Office in Tianjin, the eighth in all of China. The facility will serve as a catalyst for all chamber initiatives aimed at further enhancing the various business opportunities that exist for our companies already located and those with plans to develop in this market, becoming an important reference point for Italian SMEs not yet present as well.

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, passing through 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 the Tianjin authorities to make the municipality an important center for Italian companies and Made in Italy.

The new Office will allow CCIC to preside in a widespread and capillary way over the territory of Tianjin and consequently to intercept opportunities and needs at the service of our enterprises, dialoguing with the various local partners.

2. Inauguration ceremony Phase III of Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co., Ltd.

The delegation then went to the facilities of Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co., Ltd. a global leader in aseptic packaging solutions and among the Members of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, to attend the inauguration ceremony of the company's Phase III. Phase III stems from an expansion project that has seen the Tianjin office channel a major new investment into the territory.

Present at the ceremony were Marco Midolo, First Counselor and Head of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Italy in the People's Republic of China, David Jarach, President of Goglio Tianjin, Paolo Bazzoni, President CCIC, and Mirko Turrina, General Manager of the company.

"This is an important milestone, the result of a path of quality and innovation that has led Goglio Tianjin to become today an important production and commercial hub for the entire Asian continent, with key competencies in aseptic packaging," said CCIC President Paolo Bazzoni in congratulating Goglio executives.

"It is no coincidence that the Goglio Group has decided to channel substantial investment into this area of the country. In recent years, the municipality has been investing significantly in innovation, which considerably increases the business potential for our companies. The business environment, financial incentives and existing infrastructure make Tianjin an important hub for those who want to do business in China," President Bazzoni added in closing his speech.

3. Business conference and roundtable discussion on the automotive industry

Then, in the afternoon of March 28, the "2023 Tianjin-Italy SME Business and In-vestment Conference" was held, organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China in cooperation with the Tianjin Development and Reform Commission and the Municipality's Port Free Trade Zone. The conference was hosted by the Tianjin Municipal Government and supported by Bank of China (Tianjin branch).

It was an important moment of sharing and discussion that reaffirmed the strong ties between Italy and the municipality, and confirmed once again the existence of numerous opportunities there for our companies.

Shang Binyi, Vice Chairman of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Marco Midolo, First Counselor and Head of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Italy in the People's Republic of China

Paolo Bazzoni, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China

Gianpaolo Bruno, Director of the ICE Beijing Office and Coordinator of the China and Mongolia Offices

"Tianjin represents a historic hub of the Italian presence in China. Our Chamber of Commerce has been present and active in the area for years with companies and professionals specializing in a wide range of sectors, primarily manufacturing, mechanics, machinery and automotive," said CCIC President Paolo Bazzoni in his opening greetings.

"The Chinese domestic market increasingly represents a reference market for the mechanical engineering sector. Not the only one, but certainly the largest in the world. It is a very competitive market, difficult to interpret and manage, but rich in opportunities and with a steadily growing demand that is increasingly quality-oriented."

"Through today's initiative we intend to channel further strength into the Tianjin hub, with the aim of further increasing the penetration of Italian business in the territory," he then concluded.

Overview of the presence of Italian manufacturing companies in China

Fabio Antonello, Vice President (North) of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China and General Manager of Regina (Tianjin) Chain & Belt Co., Ltd.

Tianjin's economic and social development

Zeng Quanyi, Tianjin Development and Reform Commission official

The investment environment in the manufacturing sector in Tianjin

Mu Xinquan, Official of the Department on Industrial and Information Technology in Tianjin

The Port Free Trade Zone and the Tianjin Italian SME Industrial Park

Zhao Xuesen, Vice Chairman of the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee

Bank of China's cross-border financial services program

Hong Tao, Director of the Banking Transactions Department of the Bank of China (Tianjin Branch)

Sino-Italian economic cooperation under the new situation

Sun Yanhong, Director and Senior Researcher at the European Economic Studies Division of the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Welcome greetings and opening speeches were followed by a panel discussion on the automotive sector. The discussion, moderated by Carlo Nizia, Coordinator of the CCIC Working Group dedicated to the Mechanics sector as well as APAC Internal Audit and Risk Manager at UFI Filters, offered those present-thanks to the testimony of leading companies in the sector and local research centers-an overview of new trends in technology and the prospects that the Chinese market can offer to Italian investors.

On the Italian side, the round table featured speeches by Gaetano Cantalupo, CEO of Comau (Shanghai) Engineering Co., Ltd. and CCIC Vice President, Ermanno Vitali, CEO of FAAM China and CCIC Board Member, Luca Pitzalis, General Manager of Sira (Tianjin) Aluminum Products Co, Ltd. while, on the Chinese side, of Zhang Jijun, Deputy General Manager of Automotive Engineering Corporation of China, Wang Tiecheng, Director of CATARC New Energy Vehicle Test Center (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. and Mao Dawei, Assistant General Manager at Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd.

At the end of the conference, a networking dinner was held during which those present had the opportunity to discuss and deepen their knowledge of each other in a convivial atmosphere.

Over the next day, a guided tour was organized at two companies in the area, respectively the German Sew-Eurodrive (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. and the Chinese Great Wall Motors (GWM). On this occasion, the entrepreneurs in attendance were able to learn first-hand about the history of two different businesses and visit, through a guided tour, their plants, so as to understand their organization and the factors that have determined their success in the area.

Sew-Eurodrive (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.

Great Wall Motors (GWM)

（This article is translated from https://www.cameraitacina.com/cn/xinwen/nuova-missione-tianjin-inaugurato-8deg-ufficio-della-ccic）