Today, a rainy one, marked the second day of our internship experiences. We are all working at very different organizations ranging from large supply chain companies to smaller environmental NGOs. As we begin to settle in our roles have become more defined and we have a better idea of what is expected of us.
Winnie (pictured) and myself were fortunate enough to be placed at the European Union Chamber of Commerce here in Nanjing, a non-profit advocacy group representing European business interests in China. (If you've been following the blog we heard from Helmut Güsten, former general manager of the Nanjing chapter earlier on our trip.) The Chamber's mission is to act as the "official voice of European companies doing business in China" and to "seek greater market access and improved operating conditions" for its members. The Chamber has offices in significant Chinese economic hubs including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Nanjing. With more than 1,700 member companies the Chamber is recognized by the European Commission and the Chinese Authorities as the official voice of European business in China.
Once a year, the Chamber publishes a comprehensive "Position Paper" which details the Chinese business environment seen through a corporate European lens. And when I say comprehensive I truly mean it. Last year's "paper" was over 350 pages long! The Paper is the result of collaboration and knowledge sharing among the Chamber's member companies and working groups, each with a specific industry and regional focus. Upon publication, the Paper is presented to the respective European policy makers and Chinese government officials and is intended to be used a tool to guide future trade agreements, legislative changes, and best practices.
The deadline for the 2013/2014 Paper is fast approaching so on my first afternoon I was tasked with skimming and getting a basic understanding of the document. Today, to my surprise, I was actually tasked with updating several parts of the Paper using the Internet, print media, and Chinese government sources. I had not expected so much responsibility to be handed to me on the second day, but I am far from complaining. As a business major with an interest in economics and the Chinese market in particular, the chance to do this kind of work is an amazing opportunity.
Beyond the Position Paper, our manager shared with us the details of Danish trade delegation that occurred earlier in the day. Members of the Denmark government met with officials from the Jiangsu provincial government to explore opportunities for collaboration in the healthcare, tourism and education sectors. As I write this post the two parties will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to officially recognize that talks have begun between the two governments. This is history in the making.
At the beginning of this trip I had never imagined that it would afford me real exposure related to business in China. The more time I spend in China the more I realize what an incredible change the country is undergoing. I continue to be amazed by the speed and breadth of expansion. Just a few days ago, as we traveled from Nanjing to Anhui, I counted the number of cranes that doted the skyline, easily 100 or more. This would be unprecedented in the United States. The level of development further enforces the role that China will play in the global economy. However, the question remains if China's pace is too quick. Growing pains such as human rights violations, food safety, and pollution have come to the forefront. As far as we've seen, the government seems to make a conceited effort to respond to these issues. One thing is clear though, if China really intends to be a global leader, more things that just business practices will need to be revolutionized.
Winnie (pictured) and myself were fortunate enough to be placed at the European Union Chamber of Commerce here in Nanjing, a non-profit advocacy group representing European business interests in China. (If you've been following the blog we heard from Helmut Güsten, former general manager of the Nanjing chapter earlier on our trip.) The Chamber's mission is to act as the "official voice of European companies doing business in China" and to "seek greater market access and improved operating conditions" for its members. The Chamber has offices in significant Chinese economic hubs including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Nanjing. With more than 1,700 member companies the Chamber is recognized by the European Commission and the Chinese Authorities as the official voice of European business in China.
Once a year, the Chamber publishes a comprehensive "Position Paper" which details the Chinese business environment seen through a corporate European lens. And when I say comprehensive I truly mean it. Last year's "paper" was over 350 pages long! The Paper is the result of collaboration and knowledge sharing among the Chamber's member companies and working groups, each with a specific industry and regional focus. Upon publication, the Paper is presented to the respective European policy makers and Chinese government officials and is intended to be used a tool to guide future trade agreements, legislative changes, and best practices.
The deadline for the 2013/2014 Paper is fast approaching so on my first afternoon I was tasked with skimming and getting a basic understanding of the document. Today, to my surprise, I was actually tasked with updating several parts of the Paper using the Internet, print media, and Chinese government sources. I had not expected so much responsibility to be handed to me on the second day, but I am far from complaining. As a business major with an interest in economics and the Chinese market in particular, the chance to do this kind of work is an amazing opportunity.
Beyond the Position Paper, our manager shared with us the details of Danish trade delegation that occurred earlier in the day. Members of the Denmark government met with officials from the Jiangsu provincial government to explore opportunities for collaboration in the healthcare, tourism and education sectors. As I write this post the two parties will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to officially recognize that talks have begun between the two governments. This is history in the making.
At the beginning of this trip I had never imagined that it would afford me real exposure related to business in China. The more time I spend in China the more I realize what an incredible change the country is undergoing. I continue to be amazed by the speed and breadth of expansion. Just a few days ago, as we traveled from Nanjing to Anhui, I counted the number of cranes that doted the skyline, easily 100 or more. This would be unprecedented in the United States. The level of development further enforces the role that China will play in the global economy. However, the question remains if China's pace is too quick. Growing pains such as human rights violations, food safety, and pollution have come to the forefront. As far as we've seen, the government seems to make a conceited effort to respond to these issues. One thing is clear though, if China really intends to be a global leader, more things that just business practices will need to be revolutionized.
- Brendan G.
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