3rd Meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council hosted in Beijing

Participants at the 3rd Meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council

Participants at the 3rd Meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council

Participants at the 3rd Meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council

During the 3rd Meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council

During the 3rd Meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council

During the 3rd Meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council

Mr. Robert Dieter, Head of Economic Department of the German Embassy

Mr. Robert Dieter, Head of Economic Department of the German Embassy

Mr. Robert Dieter, Head of Economic Department of the German Embassy

For the third time the Sino-German Energy Partnership (EP) welcomed representatives from German companies, the German Embassy and German Industry and Commerce Greater China (AHK) to the German Local Business Advisory Council, hosted in the premises of the German Embassy in Beijing.

The German Local Business Advisory Council is a key instrument for the business-to-government exchange for German companies in the energy sector in China. Its bi-annual meetings enable German companies to communicate challenges and barriers that they experience in their respective industry branch on the Chinese market. Articulated challenges are integrated in the EP’s activities, including business roundtables, workshops and dialogue formats the EP holds with its political partners.

On July 25th, the first of the bi-annual meeting in 2019 was opened by Mr. Robert Dieter, head of economic department of the German Embassy, who emphasized the role of both countries’ private sector in contributing to a green future. Mr. Dieter stressed the importance of German SMEs, oftentimes pioneers and hidden champions in their industry, who he believes could bring significant contribution to China’s growing green economy.

German companies – SMEs and large corporations – face a variety of opportunities as well as challenges on the Chinese market. Ms. Yin Yuxia, Director of Sino-German Energy Partnership project, reviewed the challenges and respective approaches through the EP from the previous advisory council meetings. In detail, she explained how specific project activities were carried out to increase awareness of relevant stakeholders and to work jointly towards a solution of the issues.

In the second half of the event, new challenges were discussed by the present businesses with a thematic focus on the planning of integrated energy concepts and implementation of decentralized electricity generation in urban districts and industrial parks. Two companies shared their related activities before engaging in a lively discussion with the plenum. While some reoccurring topics such as the negligence of life cycle costs and lacking demand for holistic energy concepts were brought up, new obstacles could be identified. For example, the company representatives expressed concern about payment schemes of public tendering (e.g. final installments of 75% after project completion) and a lack of visibility on the Chinese market.

Our next meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council will take place by the end of the year in Shanghai! Join us to learn about achieved progresses and to make your voice being heard!

For more information, please contact tim.nees@giz.de.

Links:

1st meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council

2nd meeting of the German Local Business Advisory Council