The event was held online, with more than 70 registered participants, and offline at the Italian Industrial Park in Tianjin. 50 local authorities, representatives of Italian companies and compatriots in Tianjin participated on site.

The seminar was preceded by a closed-door meeting between representatives of the Tianjin government and the Italian companies that took part. During the meeting, led by the Vice President of the DRC, Sun Hujun, and the CCIC Councilor Fabio Antonello, future collaboration projects and joint activities in the Tianjin area were discussed.

It was an important event, which reaffirmed the strong bond between Italy and Tianjin, an area of strong development and an attractive pole for Italian companies.

"Through a concrete dialogue between Chinese counterparts and our companies, and the direct testimony of managers and entrepreneurs operating in the area, areas of opportunity are highlighted and concrete stimuli are provided for new commercial initiatives and potential investments, also through the sharing of important information on the different territorial realities that shape the varied business environnement of China".
– Paolo Bazzoni, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China

"I am convinced that thanks to the excellent bilateral relations and the common interest in strengthening economic relations, concrete opportunities will arise for both parties, further consolidating the already intense relations and nourishing the mutual feeling of natural sympathy and friendship".
– Marco Midolo, First Counsellor and Head of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Italy in Beijing

"Tianjin has clear advantages in terms of geographical location, industrial fabric and historical and cultural resources. In addition, it has a pilot free trade zone and aims to transform the city into a new center of international consumption. I am confident that it will become a point of reference for an increasing number of Italian companies that want to invest in China".
– Li Bin, Counsellor of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Italy

"The city of Tianjin will welcome Italian investors with open arms. We will do our best to create a high-quality business environment for all of you, so that you can feel that investing in Tianjin is beneficial, as well as the development will be promising and the results will be satisfactory."
– He Zhineng, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Commercial Bureau

The meeting created an opportunity for dialogue between Tianjin institutions and Italian companies operating locally, and an opportunity for Italian companies that want to approach the Chinese market and understand its potential.

David Zheng, Director of the Italian Industrial Park in Tianjin, illustrated the concrete help that the park can provide to Italian companies operating in the area: adequate space for business development, policies to support industries, efficient administrative services and a professional team dedicated to Italian companies.

Lorenzo Riccardi, Treasurer of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, then presented the "China-Italy Business Map" – the new tool launched by the CCIC that provides a clear picture of Italian companies in China and local and foreign partners linked to the Italian System in different territories, with potential for future B2B – focusing in particular on the Italian presence in northern China.

Afterwards, in a roundtable moderated by Renzo Isler, Secretary General of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, the participants listened to the direct testimonies of four of the Italian companies operating in the Tianjin area for a long time: Goglio (Tianjin), Regina Chain, Sisme Tianjin Electric Motors, Tenova.

Our speakers shared their business experience, the opportunities that Tianjin offered them and advice for companies interested in entering the Chinese market in particular the municipality of Tianjin

What advice would you give to a potential Italian investor who wants to invest in Tianjin?

"Key element: breaking down the wall of distrust that exists at the beginning. Companies are followed and supported from the beginning and beyond." – Fabio Antonello, General Manager China, Regina Chain

"The Italian Chamber of Commerce in China and the Tianjin Authorities can provide useful information to start their business in China". – Mirko Turrina, General Manager, Goglio (Tianjin)

"It is important to create a network with the various Italian companies, the Italian community on site, to have support and share experiences". – Alessandro Moalli, General Manager, Sisme Tianjin Electric Motors

"We see fast communication channels that allow us to better reach suppliers and customers as fundamental." – Davide Bollini, Operations Coordinator, Tenova

At the end of the meeting, Letizia Vallini, Mother Tongue Professor of the Department of Italian at Nankai University, presented the Italian department and reiterated the importance of the link between the academic and business worlds.

At the end of the event, a video was shown that took us inside the Italian Quarter of Tianjin underlining the municipality's link with Italy.

We thank the Chinese partners: Tianjin Development and Reform Commission, Tianjin Commercial Bureau, Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone; and the Italian partners: Confindustria, Confindustria Emilia, Venicepromex and Fondazione Università Ca' Foscari.