Chinamex Opens First European Enterprise
Facilitating Chinese business expansion and development
In a project unique in Europe, Chinamex has opened its first European enterprise centre to facilitate Chinese businesses in their overseas expansion and development in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.
The China Zhongshan (Europe) Enterprises Centre in Schiphol-Rijk (Haarlemmermeer) was officially opened by the Ambassador Charge d' Affaires in the Netherlands, Zhang Daxing on 19 June, 2009. Established by Chinamex Holdings Netherlands BV (CHN), the centre’s main focus is to facilitate first class trading and strategic partners in Europe to 100 Chinese companies from Zhongshan, an upcoming industrial city in the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong province in southern China.
Number one reason
Also present were Hao Feng, President of Chinamex Group, Feng Yurong, Vice Mayor of Zhongshan and Arthur van Dijk, Vice Mayor of Haarlemmermeer. Three years in the making, the deal is a coup for the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, even if the original plans have been considerably scaled down due to the economic crisis.
Feng Yurong, “Despite the economic crisis we feel this is a great opportunity for a win-win, creating closer ties between the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area and Zhongshan”
Despite being scaled-down, the centre is a hugely symbolic confidence booster, said Zeid Kong, CEO of CHN. He cited the Amsterdam Area’s “sophisticated logistics expertise” as the number one reason for choosing here, followed by the quality and language skills of the people and their trading reputation.
“Those who believe the crisis will end and look to Asia for growth, it is a huge vote of confidence in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area as a central node of knowledge and trade,” said Arthur van Dijk, Deputy Mayor of Haarlemmermeer. “I speak for all the mayors of the partner municipalities in welcoming Chinamex.”
One industry in one town
Situated between Hong Kong and Macau, there are five international airports within 90 minutes of Zhongshan, a city with a population of 2.5 million made up of 18 towns, each specialized in making a particular product. This ‘One Industry in One Town’ has become a unique economic feature of the city. Initially, the enterprise centre will showcase three main industries: lighting, small household appliances, and hardware.
Two way bridge
“Chinamex is a different concept in business centre; more than just an exchange, it’s a platform for long term partnerships, a two-way bridge,” said Tim Man, managing partner of Sassaya Group, one of the partners in CHN.
The industries of Zhongshan – dubbed one of the Four Little Tigers of Guangdong - can offer strong capital positions and production capability as well as R&D and rich human resources. In return they will be primarily looking for branding expertise and technical exchange via co-operation, particularly in areas such as energy saving and waste water treatment.
Full support from China
Chinamex is a private investment intiative but with full support from the city of Zhongshan and the national Chinese government.
It’s secondary goal is to contribute to the development of trade and economic cooperation between European and Chinese companies in other areas of China.
