From http://www.expansion.com/2011/12/14/catalunya/1323892444.html (in Spanish)
Despite the efforts of former Catalan president José Montilla (see http://sinalunya.com/2010/10/09/catalan-president-jose-montilla-visits-chery-company-in-china) and the hopes of the current president Artur Mas, (http://sinalunya.com/2011/04/30/chery-includes-catalonia-industrial-plans), the news arriving from China are not of the kind expected in Catalonia. Chery International Automobile Co. has announced an alliance with Israel Corporation to produce in China the cars aimed at the European market. Since 2007, both companies have been working together on the joint venture Chery Quantum Auto and in November 2011 they have presented in China the prototype of their new brand Qoros, which should be on sale in Europe by 2013. After this decision, the Catalan government is already on conversations with BMW's Chinese partner, Brilliance Auto, for its establishment in Catalonia.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Association for the health and development of Chinese immigrants created in Barcelona
From http://bswomenb.blogspot.com/2011/12/associacio-shui-di-per-la-salut-i-el.html (in Chinese and Catalan)
The Shui Di (水滴) Association for Health and Development is a non-profit organization that has been created in order to assist the Chinese immigrant population living in the city of Barcelona and its metropolitan area. Shui Di has been created by a group of people that have a deep knowledge of China and that love the country, and that are sensitive towards both the health problems of the Chinese immigrants here and in China itself. Shui Di offers its services to any Chinese person that may require them, by breaking language barriers and by helping them to access the health system when required.
In order to contact the Shui Di Association, you can use any of the following ways:
Phone: (+34) 688 010 027
E-mail: associacio.shuidi@gmail.com
QQ: http://2295771876.qzone.qq.com
The Shui Di (水滴) Association for Health and Development is a non-profit organization that has been created in order to assist the Chinese immigrant population living in the city of Barcelona and its metropolitan area. Shui Di has been created by a group of people that have a deep knowledge of China and that love the country, and that are sensitive towards both the health problems of the Chinese immigrants here and in China itself. Shui Di offers its services to any Chinese person that may require them, by breaking language barriers and by helping them to access the health system when required.
In order to contact the Shui Di Association, you can use any of the following ways:
Phone: (+34) 688 010 027
E-mail: associacio.shuidi@gmail.com
QQ: http://2295771876.qzone.qq.com
Catalan cruise company will operate a cruise terminal in Singapore
From http://www.expansion.com/2011/12/28/catalunya/1325071565.html (in Spanish)
Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA, a Catalan cruise company of which the Barcelona Port Authority holds 20% of its shares, has been awarded by the Singapore Tourism Board with the management of a new international cruise terminal in Singapore. The future terminal will start operations by mid 2012 has been designed to operate with the largest cruise ships sailing South-East Asian seas. Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA will operate this new terminal in a joint venture with the local company Singapore Terminal Services (SATS) under the name SATS-Creuers Cruise Services.
Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA has recently built two cruise terminals and manages five more of them in the Port of Barcelona. The latter has become the main European and Mediterranean cruise port and is closing 2011 with 2.6 million users, whereas the Singapore port has received around 1 million passengers. Carles Domingo, Managing Director of Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA, has mentioned the worldwide recognition that this appointment is going to represent for his company.
Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA, a Catalan cruise company of which the Barcelona Port Authority holds 20% of its shares, has been awarded by the Singapore Tourism Board with the management of a new international cruise terminal in Singapore. The future terminal will start operations by mid 2012 has been designed to operate with the largest cruise ships sailing South-East Asian seas. Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA will operate this new terminal in a joint venture with the local company Singapore Terminal Services (SATS) under the name SATS-Creuers Cruise Services.
Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA has recently built two cruise terminals and manages five more of them in the Port of Barcelona. The latter has become the main European and Mediterranean cruise port and is closing 2011 with 2.6 million users, whereas the Singapore port has received around 1 million passengers. Carles Domingo, Managing Director of Creuers del Port de Barcelona SA, has mentioned the worldwide recognition that this appointment is going to represent for his company.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Seminar on the China - European Union policies in Barcelona's Casa Àsia
From http://www.casaasia.eu/actividad/detalle?id=204925 (in English)
Casa Àsia's headquarters in Barcelona is organizing an interesting one-day seminar about China - European Union policies on Friday, January 13th, 2012, between 10 am and 2 pm at the Confucius Room. The growing global power and influence of China has changed the way international relationships have been held in the recent decades and it is important for the European Union to establish a cooperative relationship with the Asian superpower. Apart from several top-level presentations by European and Chinese keynote speakers, the seminar will present the results of a survey-based research project that was co-funded by the European Union’s 7th Framework Program and that was aimed at understanding what are the perceptions of the Chinese society towards Europe.
This seminar is held in different European Union countries and is conducted by a six-member consortium led by the China Policy Institute of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) with Jacobs University in Bremen (Germany), the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Renmin University in Beijing (China), the Leiden University (Netherlands), and the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House in London (United Kingdom). The seminar will be conducted in English, with simultaneous translation into Spanish.
Program
10am – 10.30 am - Registration over coffee
10.30 am - Welcome by Casa Asia and Introduction by the Chair
Ricardo Pascoe, former director of the China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham.
10.35 am - Introduction
Dr. Simona Ardovino, Scientific Officer, European Commission.
10.40 am - Chinese Views of the European Union: Project Overview and the Key Policy Implications
Dr. Zhengxu Wang, Project Coordinator, Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow, China Policy Institute, School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, Nottingham University.
11.10 am - Chinese Citizens’ Attitudes towards the European Union and their Origins
Henk Dekker, Professor of Political Socialization and Integration, Leiden University.
11.25 am - Chinese Trust in Europeans, and Chinese Affect towards European Culture –Research Findings and Policy Implications
Timo Graf, Research Associate, Jacobs University, Bremen (his co-author Jan Delhey, Professor of Sociology at Jacobs University, will join the panel discussion).
11.40 am - Opinions of the Chinese Elites on the Most Controversial Issues Affecting the European Union’s China Strategy and the Policy Implications
Profesor Dong Lisheng, Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
11.55 am – 12.15 pm Break
12.15 pm - Fragile Friendship: How Chinese Perceive the European Union; analysis of Six Focus Group Interviews and the Policy Implications
Richard Pascoe on behalf of Dr. Tang Haihua, Renmin University.
12.30 pm - Europe in current Chinese history textbooks and options for cultural exchange between China and the European Union
Alexander Thies, Research Associate, Jacobs University.
12.45 pm - Communicating the EU as an Environmental Actor and EU-China Environmental Cooperation
Dr. Li Zhang, Research Fellow, China Policy Institute, School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, University of Nottingham.
1 pm - 2 pm Panel Discussion, questions and answers
Useful information
Date: Friday, 13 January 2012, from 10 am to 2 pm
Venue: Casa Àsia, Confucius Room, Avinguda Diagonal 373, Barcelona
Ticket: Free admission with prior registration (contact yparicio@casaasia.es)
Organizers: Casa Àsia, European Commission, 7th Framework Program of European Union and Nottingham University.
For more information, download this pdf document.
Night view of modern China (Image from Casa Àsia website)
Casa Àsia's headquarters in Barcelona is organizing an interesting one-day seminar about China - European Union policies on Friday, January 13th, 2012, between 10 am and 2 pm at the Confucius Room. The growing global power and influence of China has changed the way international relationships have been held in the recent decades and it is important for the European Union to establish a cooperative relationship with the Asian superpower. Apart from several top-level presentations by European and Chinese keynote speakers, the seminar will present the results of a survey-based research project that was co-funded by the European Union’s 7th Framework Program and that was aimed at understanding what are the perceptions of the Chinese society towards Europe.
This seminar is held in different European Union countries and is conducted by a six-member consortium led by the China Policy Institute of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) with Jacobs University in Bremen (Germany), the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Renmin University in Beijing (China), the Leiden University (Netherlands), and the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House in London (United Kingdom). The seminar will be conducted in English, with simultaneous translation into Spanish.
Program
10am – 10.30 am - Registration over coffee
10.30 am - Welcome by Casa Asia and Introduction by the Chair
Ricardo Pascoe, former director of the China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham.
10.35 am - Introduction
Dr. Simona Ardovino, Scientific Officer, European Commission.
10.40 am - Chinese Views of the European Union: Project Overview and the Key Policy Implications
Dr. Zhengxu Wang, Project Coordinator, Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow, China Policy Institute, School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, Nottingham University.
11.10 am - Chinese Citizens’ Attitudes towards the European Union and their Origins
Henk Dekker, Professor of Political Socialization and Integration, Leiden University.
11.25 am - Chinese Trust in Europeans, and Chinese Affect towards European Culture –Research Findings and Policy Implications
Timo Graf, Research Associate, Jacobs University, Bremen (his co-author Jan Delhey, Professor of Sociology at Jacobs University, will join the panel discussion).
11.40 am - Opinions of the Chinese Elites on the Most Controversial Issues Affecting the European Union’s China Strategy and the Policy Implications
Profesor Dong Lisheng, Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
11.55 am – 12.15 pm Break
12.15 pm - Fragile Friendship: How Chinese Perceive the European Union; analysis of Six Focus Group Interviews and the Policy Implications
Richard Pascoe on behalf of Dr. Tang Haihua, Renmin University.
12.30 pm - Europe in current Chinese history textbooks and options for cultural exchange between China and the European Union
Alexander Thies, Research Associate, Jacobs University.
12.45 pm - Communicating the EU as an Environmental Actor and EU-China Environmental Cooperation
Dr. Li Zhang, Research Fellow, China Policy Institute, School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, University of Nottingham.
1 pm - 2 pm Panel Discussion, questions and answers
Useful information
Date: Friday, 13 January 2012, from 10 am to 2 pm
Venue: Casa Àsia, Confucius Room, Avinguda Diagonal 373, Barcelona
Ticket: Free admission with prior registration (contact yparicio@casaasia.es)
Organizers: Casa Àsia, European Commission, 7th Framework Program of European Union and Nottingham University.
For more information, download this pdf document.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
FC Barcelona wins the FIFA Club World Cup 2011 in Japan
From http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/match-archive/2011-2012/mundial-de-clubs/final/santos_fc-barcelona (in English)
The football section of famous Catalan sportsclub FC Barcelona has won the 2011 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup played in Japan against Brazilian team Santos FC by 0-4, with goals by Messi (2), Xavi and Cesc Fàbregas. Arguably one of the best club teams ever, in 2011 FC Barcelona has won 5 out of the 6 competitions that was in, and 13 out of 16 since Pep Guardiola became the head coach in 2008 - an impressive record.
Here there is a 4-minute summary of the highlights of the game
The football section of famous Catalan sportsclub FC Barcelona has won the 2011 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup played in Japan against Brazilian team Santos FC by 0-4, with goals by Messi (2), Xavi and Cesc Fàbregas. Arguably one of the best club teams ever, in 2011 FC Barcelona has won 5 out of the 6 competitions that was in, and 13 out of 16 since Pep Guardiola became the head coach in 2008 - an impressive record.
Here there is a 4-minute summary of the highlights of the game
Sabadell Chamber of Commerce and Industry organizes commercial mission to China
From http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=6849 (in Catalan)
The Sabadell Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing a commercial mission to China for April 15-21, 2012, specially addressed to companies of the following sectors: automotive, construction materials, engineering, electrical, plastics, chemical and consumer products. This mission has the support of the ACC1Ó office in Shanghai. The goals of this mission are: i) to promote Catalan companies in China; ii) to support the internationalization of Catalan companies; iii) to promote strategic alliances with Chinese partners; and iv) to evaluate potential investments in situ. Further information (in Catalan) can be obtained by downloading a pdf document from ACC1Ó website.
The Sabadell Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing a commercial mission to China for April 15-21, 2012, specially addressed to companies of the following sectors: automotive, construction materials, engineering, electrical, plastics, chemical and consumer products. This mission has the support of the ACC1Ó office in Shanghai. The goals of this mission are: i) to promote Catalan companies in China; ii) to support the internationalization of Catalan companies; iii) to promote strategic alliances with Chinese partners; and iv) to evaluate potential investments in situ. Further information (in Catalan) can be obtained by downloading a pdf document from ACC1Ó website.
Opportunities for Catalan companies in inland China
From http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=6877 (in Catalan)
The Sabadell Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing a workshop for Wednesday, December 21st, 2011, to deal with the business opportunities for Catalan companies in inland China (Chongqing and Chengdu, in the Sichuan province). The event will be presented by Mr. Vicenç Vicente, Head of International Promotion of the Sabadell Chamber of Commerce and Industry and will host the presentations of Mr. Carlos Hernández, Manager at the Chengdu Atif Consulting Limited Company (Atifworld), and Mr. Esteban Granados, Project Manager at Miliners, a lawyer firm with office in China. Attendance is free but a previous registration at promociointernacional@cambrasabadell.org is required. Further information (in Catalan) can be obtained by downloading a pdf document from ACC1Ó website.
The Sabadell Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing a workshop for Wednesday, December 21st, 2011, to deal with the business opportunities for Catalan companies in inland China (Chongqing and Chengdu, in the Sichuan province). The event will be presented by Mr. Vicenç Vicente, Head of International Promotion of the Sabadell Chamber of Commerce and Industry and will host the presentations of Mr. Carlos Hernández, Manager at the Chengdu Atif Consulting Limited Company (Atifworld), and Mr. Esteban Granados, Project Manager at Miliners, a lawyer firm with office in China. Attendance is free but a previous registration at promociointernacional@cambrasabadell.org is required. Further information (in Catalan) can be obtained by downloading a pdf document from ACC1Ó website.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Chinese-American writer Qiu Xiaolong in Barcelona
From http://www.casaasia.eu/actividad/detalle?id=204718 (in English)
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Qiu Xiaolong (Image from the writer's website)"]
[/caption]
In the framework of a series of activities related to asian detective fiction literature under the title of "Dialogues on Asian Black Novels and Detective Fiction", Casa Àsia and Confucius Institute Foundation in Barcelona have organized a meeting with Qiu Xiaolong, poet and translator of classics of American literature into Chinese language. Qiu Xiaolong talked to Andreu Martín, a renowned Catalan black novel writer, about his series of detective stories featuring Chief Inspector Chen Cao and his portrait of modern China. The invitation card to the event can be downloaded from Casa Àsia website as pdf file.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Qiu Xiaolong (Image from the writer's website)"]
[/caption]In the framework of a series of activities related to asian detective fiction literature under the title of "Dialogues on Asian Black Novels and Detective Fiction", Casa Àsia and Confucius Institute Foundation in Barcelona have organized a meeting with Qiu Xiaolong, poet and translator of classics of American literature into Chinese language. Qiu Xiaolong talked to Andreu Martín, a renowned Catalan black novel writer, about his series of detective stories featuring Chief Inspector Chen Cao and his portrait of modern China. The invitation card to the event can be downloaded from Casa Àsia website as pdf file.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Sinalunya interviews: Hugo Peris
[caption id="attachment_1157" align="alignleft" width="173" caption="Hugo Peris"]
[/caption]
Hugo Peris was born in Barcelona in 1983 and has a degree in International Business. So far, he has had a professional career happening mostly on the pharmaceutical industry, something that has led him to establish in Shanghai. Because of his training and his professional activity, his opinions and insights may be highly valuable for those willing to work in East Asia, and because of his origins they are worth being published in Sinalunya. We thank him for taking the time to answer these questions for our blog.
Q: Hailing from Catalonia, you are now working actively in East Asia, developing new markets for a pharmaceutical company. How did such a thing happen and what is your experience so far living in such a different society?
R: I've always been related to the pharmaceutical industry as a family thing, since my family owns a pharmaceutical company in Spain. I remember that often at home my dad and my grandmother were talking about about pharmaceutical compounds and R&D projects for their company. I first tried to get a degree in Pharmacy, but soon I realized I wasn't born to wear a white coat and to spend hours looking through a microscope so I decided to try International Business studies. Traveling and doing business abroad always seemed interesting to me and during my school years I had the chance to do an internship at Novartis in Australia and New Zealand. Right after that 6-month internship I realized that my future would be linked to this sector and that I wanted my life to happen internationally. After I graduated, my family gave me the opportunity to go work for our partners in the United States so I ended up in Chicago working as a sales representative to expand the business of this Mississippi based pharmaceutical company in the Midwest. After a year and a half in sales, I met Robert Braithwaite, a British entrepreneur that after six years living in China, was starting up LUQA, an Asian specialty pharmaceutical company. Three months later I was in Shanghai, learning from Robert’s experience and working together to grow LUQA’s business in China and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
I think I adapted quite rapidly to this new environment: I've been lucky to find a great job opportunity (fast growth, lots of learning, lots of traveling and lots of fun working with Robert) and I would say that Shanghai is the easiest place on Earth to start a new life. The expat community here is huge; there is a great variety of local and international bars and restaurants, and both the mix of cultures and the booming economy transmit so much energy and vitality that it is impossible for almost anyone not to love this city. I like to say, and most of my friends agree, that Shanghai is the new New York City.
Q: You are Business Development Manager at LUQA. What is company’s activity and aim?
LUQA is a novel, China-based, specialty pharmaceutical company. We are engaged in acquiring, developing, and commercializing innovative products for China and for Southeast Asia. To date, we have obtained the exclusive distribution rights for four drugs from some international pharmaceutical manufacturers and we are currently finishing the negotiations for two additional products. We are building a China-tailored strategy to ensure optimal access to the vast opportunities in the country’s healthcare market. In parallel, we leverage opportunities in Southeast Asia to market our products through our strong regional network.
I would say that the key elements to LUQA’s current growth and future success are the knowledge of the Asian pharmaceutical markets, the confidence that we convey to our European partners compared to other local and very opaque organizations, and our vast network of contacts that gives us access to unique sourcing opportunities and, at the same time, allows us to find the best distribution partner for each product in each market.
Q: Why the development of this entrepreneurial project in East Asia and not in Europe? What does East Asian markets offer that may be lacking now in Europe? What are the difficulties that they offer?
R: Well… I guess the main reason to this is that Robert decided to settle down in Shanghai. His past experience with another Spanish pharmaceutical firm helped him envision the opportunity of offering a gateway to Asia to mid to small-sized European companies, but from Asia itself. Entry barriers to China are huge for those unfamiliar with the local market and the local culture, especially in the very regulated pharmaceutical industry. Needless to remember how many great companies have failed to succeed in the Chinese market.
Nowadays East Asian markets are the candy that all European companies are chasing. The growth of the pharmaceutical industry in this side of the world contrasts with the increased regulation, the pressure in prices and the lack of trust of traditional markets. Asia offers huge growth in untapped markets with underdeveloped therapeutic areas to companies that have traditionally operated locally and are now struggling to maintain their past local growth.
Doing business in Asia is difficult because of the cultural barriers and due to the singularities of each market in the region. Being able to find the right local partner for each product and understanding how every different market in the region works are key to succeed. But this is not available to everyone and most of the times it requires a strong local presence.
Q: In the recent years there is a growing trend of internationalization of Catalan economy and companies are doing great efforts to reach new markets, including those in East Asia. What is your impression of this trend? Can Catalan companies be successful in such environment? What would be your advice to businessmen willing to take this path?
R: It is clear to everyone that the last crisis has changed the rules of the game. China is now at the center of the global economy. What used to be a cheap supermarket for every developed economy is now a very attractive market with the fastest growing economy in the world and a handful of opportunities. I think there are two facts that exemplify this in the particular Catalan case. Since a couple of years ago, we are seeing many young professionals coming to Asia in search of job opportunities and expecting for a brighter future. More and more people can’t stand the pessimism and the increasing lack of hope emanating from the economic and social reality of our region. Another fact that catches my attention is that over the last year most Catalan newspapers have published many news of different kinds about China, when before you would only see maybe one or two articles a year talking about the Middle Kingdom. Honestly, I believe that China is not the future anymore, but it is the present. A huge, unknown but very promising present.
Catalan companies have traditionally been very open to foreign markets and there are many very successful firms present in China. It has never been easy to arrive to these markets and I believe that key to success is to have well trained people with great push and adaptability managing the business locally. Beyond that, Catalonia has great companies already offering nice products and services. I believe that the very tight current economic situation will push these companies to thrive and succeed in this side of the World.
Q: You are also developing your own project, breakPHARMA. What is breakPHARMA and what is its aim? How did you come with such idea and what are your achievements so far?
breakPHARMA started as a side project while I was in Chicago. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and I guess I am kind of a computer geek. A few years ago I learned to develop websites and I started working on side projects –good pocket money at that time. At first it was only for friends and family. Then I partnered with a friend to start up an equestrian website. I also did a couple of projects on my own and breakPHARMA is the last idea I came up with: an automatic aggregator of news and job offers of the Spanish pharmaceutical industry.
It first started as a website but I recently moved to Twitter where I aim to interact with other people who are interested in the pharmaceutical industry and generate some buzz. Now I am thinking of replicating this for Asia with the idea of offering a single point where people will be able to find information about the Asian pharmaceutical industry. We’ll see how it goes… But I know I won’t be able to put too much time on it because LUQA is consuming most of my time and, to be honest, that is the real entrepreneur project!
Q: Finally, please let us know a little bit more about yourself by telling us your tastes:
A book: Invisible, by Paul Auster (the last book I have read)
A movie: Pulp Fiction
An actor or actress: George Clooney
A song or musical piece: Sky and Sand, by Paul Kalkbrenner
A singer or performer: the Phoenix concert last year at Lollapalooza is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen
A landscape: the view of the city of Barcelona from the sea
A dish from Chinese cuisine: I prefer the Taiwanese xiao long bao (小笼包, you can taste them at the restaurant chain Din Tai Fung!)
A dish from Catalan cuisine: I don’t think I can choose one! But first thing I’d like to eat when I get to Barcelona is fuet and pa amb tomàquet!
A wish: Happiness
[caption id="attachment_1156" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Hugo Peris"]
[/caption]
[/caption]Hugo Peris was born in Barcelona in 1983 and has a degree in International Business. So far, he has had a professional career happening mostly on the pharmaceutical industry, something that has led him to establish in Shanghai. Because of his training and his professional activity, his opinions and insights may be highly valuable for those willing to work in East Asia, and because of his origins they are worth being published in Sinalunya. We thank him for taking the time to answer these questions for our blog.
Q: Hailing from Catalonia, you are now working actively in East Asia, developing new markets for a pharmaceutical company. How did such a thing happen and what is your experience so far living in such a different society?
R: I've always been related to the pharmaceutical industry as a family thing, since my family owns a pharmaceutical company in Spain. I remember that often at home my dad and my grandmother were talking about about pharmaceutical compounds and R&D projects for their company. I first tried to get a degree in Pharmacy, but soon I realized I wasn't born to wear a white coat and to spend hours looking through a microscope so I decided to try International Business studies. Traveling and doing business abroad always seemed interesting to me and during my school years I had the chance to do an internship at Novartis in Australia and New Zealand. Right after that 6-month internship I realized that my future would be linked to this sector and that I wanted my life to happen internationally. After I graduated, my family gave me the opportunity to go work for our partners in the United States so I ended up in Chicago working as a sales representative to expand the business of this Mississippi based pharmaceutical company in the Midwest. After a year and a half in sales, I met Robert Braithwaite, a British entrepreneur that after six years living in China, was starting up LUQA, an Asian specialty pharmaceutical company. Three months later I was in Shanghai, learning from Robert’s experience and working together to grow LUQA’s business in China and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
I think I adapted quite rapidly to this new environment: I've been lucky to find a great job opportunity (fast growth, lots of learning, lots of traveling and lots of fun working with Robert) and I would say that Shanghai is the easiest place on Earth to start a new life. The expat community here is huge; there is a great variety of local and international bars and restaurants, and both the mix of cultures and the booming economy transmit so much energy and vitality that it is impossible for almost anyone not to love this city. I like to say, and most of my friends agree, that Shanghai is the new New York City.
Q: You are Business Development Manager at LUQA. What is company’s activity and aim?
LUQA is a novel, China-based, specialty pharmaceutical company. We are engaged in acquiring, developing, and commercializing innovative products for China and for Southeast Asia. To date, we have obtained the exclusive distribution rights for four drugs from some international pharmaceutical manufacturers and we are currently finishing the negotiations for two additional products. We are building a China-tailored strategy to ensure optimal access to the vast opportunities in the country’s healthcare market. In parallel, we leverage opportunities in Southeast Asia to market our products through our strong regional network.
I would say that the key elements to LUQA’s current growth and future success are the knowledge of the Asian pharmaceutical markets, the confidence that we convey to our European partners compared to other local and very opaque organizations, and our vast network of contacts that gives us access to unique sourcing opportunities and, at the same time, allows us to find the best distribution partner for each product in each market.
Q: Why the development of this entrepreneurial project in East Asia and not in Europe? What does East Asian markets offer that may be lacking now in Europe? What are the difficulties that they offer?
R: Well… I guess the main reason to this is that Robert decided to settle down in Shanghai. His past experience with another Spanish pharmaceutical firm helped him envision the opportunity of offering a gateway to Asia to mid to small-sized European companies, but from Asia itself. Entry barriers to China are huge for those unfamiliar with the local market and the local culture, especially in the very regulated pharmaceutical industry. Needless to remember how many great companies have failed to succeed in the Chinese market.
Nowadays East Asian markets are the candy that all European companies are chasing. The growth of the pharmaceutical industry in this side of the world contrasts with the increased regulation, the pressure in prices and the lack of trust of traditional markets. Asia offers huge growth in untapped markets with underdeveloped therapeutic areas to companies that have traditionally operated locally and are now struggling to maintain their past local growth.
Doing business in Asia is difficult because of the cultural barriers and due to the singularities of each market in the region. Being able to find the right local partner for each product and understanding how every different market in the region works are key to succeed. But this is not available to everyone and most of the times it requires a strong local presence.
Q: In the recent years there is a growing trend of internationalization of Catalan economy and companies are doing great efforts to reach new markets, including those in East Asia. What is your impression of this trend? Can Catalan companies be successful in such environment? What would be your advice to businessmen willing to take this path?
R: It is clear to everyone that the last crisis has changed the rules of the game. China is now at the center of the global economy. What used to be a cheap supermarket for every developed economy is now a very attractive market with the fastest growing economy in the world and a handful of opportunities. I think there are two facts that exemplify this in the particular Catalan case. Since a couple of years ago, we are seeing many young professionals coming to Asia in search of job opportunities and expecting for a brighter future. More and more people can’t stand the pessimism and the increasing lack of hope emanating from the economic and social reality of our region. Another fact that catches my attention is that over the last year most Catalan newspapers have published many news of different kinds about China, when before you would only see maybe one or two articles a year talking about the Middle Kingdom. Honestly, I believe that China is not the future anymore, but it is the present. A huge, unknown but very promising present.
Catalan companies have traditionally been very open to foreign markets and there are many very successful firms present in China. It has never been easy to arrive to these markets and I believe that key to success is to have well trained people with great push and adaptability managing the business locally. Beyond that, Catalonia has great companies already offering nice products and services. I believe that the very tight current economic situation will push these companies to thrive and succeed in this side of the World.
Q: You are also developing your own project, breakPHARMA. What is breakPHARMA and what is its aim? How did you come with such idea and what are your achievements so far?
breakPHARMA started as a side project while I was in Chicago. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and I guess I am kind of a computer geek. A few years ago I learned to develop websites and I started working on side projects –good pocket money at that time. At first it was only for friends and family. Then I partnered with a friend to start up an equestrian website. I also did a couple of projects on my own and breakPHARMA is the last idea I came up with: an automatic aggregator of news and job offers of the Spanish pharmaceutical industry.
It first started as a website but I recently moved to Twitter where I aim to interact with other people who are interested in the pharmaceutical industry and generate some buzz. Now I am thinking of replicating this for Asia with the idea of offering a single point where people will be able to find information about the Asian pharmaceutical industry. We’ll see how it goes… But I know I won’t be able to put too much time on it because LUQA is consuming most of my time and, to be honest, that is the real entrepreneur project!
Q: Finally, please let us know a little bit more about yourself by telling us your tastes:
A book: Invisible, by Paul Auster (the last book I have read)
A movie: Pulp Fiction
An actor or actress: George Clooney
A song or musical piece: Sky and Sand, by Paul Kalkbrenner
A singer or performer: the Phoenix concert last year at Lollapalooza is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen
A landscape: the view of the city of Barcelona from the sea
A dish from Chinese cuisine: I prefer the Taiwanese xiao long bao (小笼包, you can taste them at the restaurant chain Din Tai Fung!)
A dish from Catalan cuisine: I don’t think I can choose one! But first thing I’d like to eat when I get to Barcelona is fuet and pa amb tomàquet!
A wish: Happiness
[caption id="attachment_1156" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Hugo Peris"]
[/caption]Tuesday, November 29, 2011
First complete study on Chinese tourism in Spain
From http://comunicatur.info/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1819&Itemid=37 (in Catalan)
Despite the fact that Chinese tourism is relatively recent, during the recent years the awesome economic growth figures have brought the attention of many agents and professionals of the touristic sector, in order to start approaching themselves to this emerging market. Forecasts say that during the next decade one out of two tourists that are supposed to visit Europe will come from Asia, specially from China . When the average expense on their trips abroad is also taken into account (between 1,500 and 3,000€ per person and trip), the reasons why this is a priority market for the future are pretty evident. Because of this, in July 2011, the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Miguel Sebastián, publicly announced the "Plan Turismo China", where the strategy of Spanish government to attract Chinese tourists was disclosed. The study on Chinese tourism in Spain has been authored by Daniel Tomás Gaimundiz, who has had the support of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI). The report contains many statistical data on arrivals, distribution and origin of the Chinese touristic flows, as well as on the profile of the average tourist and his/her expenses.
Chinese tourism offers also a great opportunity for Catalonia, since it is their favorite region in Spain to visit. According to estimations, in 2010 47% of the tourists that visited Spain had at least gone through Catalonia, thanks to the attraction of the city of Barcelona and to the vicinity to countries like France and Italy.
The 118-page document written in Spanish can be downloaded as pdf file from the Comunicatur website at http://comunicatur.info/cms/images/stories/documents/turismochinoespana.pdf.
[caption id="attachment_1141" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Chinese tourists visiting the Santa Clotilde Gardens, Lloret de Mar, Costa Brava"]
[/caption]
Despite the fact that Chinese tourism is relatively recent, during the recent years the awesome economic growth figures have brought the attention of many agents and professionals of the touristic sector, in order to start approaching themselves to this emerging market. Forecasts say that during the next decade one out of two tourists that are supposed to visit Europe will come from Asia, specially from China . When the average expense on their trips abroad is also taken into account (between 1,500 and 3,000€ per person and trip), the reasons why this is a priority market for the future are pretty evident. Because of this, in July 2011, the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Miguel Sebastián, publicly announced the "Plan Turismo China", where the strategy of Spanish government to attract Chinese tourists was disclosed. The study on Chinese tourism in Spain has been authored by Daniel Tomás Gaimundiz, who has had the support of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI). The report contains many statistical data on arrivals, distribution and origin of the Chinese touristic flows, as well as on the profile of the average tourist and his/her expenses.
Chinese tourism offers also a great opportunity for Catalonia, since it is their favorite region in Spain to visit. According to estimations, in 2010 47% of the tourists that visited Spain had at least gone through Catalonia, thanks to the attraction of the city of Barcelona and to the vicinity to countries like France and Italy.
The 118-page document written in Spanish can be downloaded as pdf file from the Comunicatur website at http://comunicatur.info/cms/images/stories/documents/turismochinoespana.pdf.
[caption id="attachment_1141" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Chinese tourists visiting the Santa Clotilde Gardens, Lloret de Mar, Costa Brava"]
[/caption]
Catalan workshop on the development of Chinese tour operators
From http://workshops.catalunya.com/wsxina2011 (in Catalan)
The Catalan Tourism Agency has recently organized a workshop aimed at Chinese tour operators in order to bring tourists to Catalonia. The event has been designed to promote holiday and cultural packages and has been hosted by Casa Àsia in Barcelona.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Catalan workshop on Chinese tour operators (Image from workshop website)"]
[/caption]
The Catalan Tourism Agency has recently organized a workshop aimed at Chinese tour operators in order to bring tourists to Catalonia. The event has been designed to promote holiday and cultural packages and has been hosted by Casa Àsia in Barcelona.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Catalan workshop on Chinese tour operators (Image from workshop website)"]
[/caption]
FC Barcelona closes deal with Chinese internet provider Tencent
From http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/detail/article/barca-closes-deal-with-chinese-internet-giant-tencent (in English)
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="384" caption="FC Barcelona closes deal with Tencent (Image from FC Barcelona website)"]
[/caption]
FC Barcelona is already the leader among Spanish football clubs on social networks, with nearly 23 million fans on Facebook and 4.5 million followers on Twitter (accounts in Catalan, Spanish and English) and its website is the most visited Spanish football site with over 100 million visits per year. The deal with Tencent is expected to consolidate this position, thanks to the 900 million users of QQ, 500 million users of Qzone and 130 million users of Pengyou, their main several social media sites. FC Barcelona will also open a verified account on Tencent Weibo, known as the Chinese Twitter, which has some 300 million users.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="384" caption="FC Barcelona closes deal with Tencent (Image from FC Barcelona website)"]
[/caption]A delegation from FC Barcelona has recently visited China in order to sign a deal with Tencent, the main internet service provider of the Asian country. This deal is expected to allow FC Barcelona a massive audience in China and also to generate new financial resources for the Catalan football club. The Director of the Technology Area (New Technologies) of FC Barcelona, Dídac Lee, from Taiwanese origin, has declared to be very satisfied with this agreement, both because of his cultural origins and because it is also related with his field of work and expertise. Tencent will develop FC Barcelona's new Chinese website and will also commercialize applications and mobile games using the FC Barcelona brand.
FC Barcelona is already the leader among Spanish football clubs on social networks, with nearly 23 million fans on Facebook and 4.5 million followers on Twitter (accounts in Catalan, Spanish and English) and its website is the most visited Spanish football site with over 100 million visits per year. The deal with Tencent is expected to consolidate this position, thanks to the 900 million users of QQ, 500 million users of Qzone and 130 million users of Pengyou, their main several social media sites. FC Barcelona will also open a verified account on Tencent Weibo, known as the Chinese Twitter, which has some 300 million users.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Seven Catalan companies have attended Shanghai's Food & Hotel China 2011
From http://www.icex.es/icex/cda/controller/pageICEX/0,6558,5518394_5519005_6366453_4533228,00.html (in Spanish)
Seven Catalan companies have traveled to Shanghai to attend the Food & Hotel China 2011 trade fair. Together with other 56 Spanish companies, they have showcased their products at the Spain's Official Pavillion, under the wing of the Spanish Agriculture and Food Plan in China (Plan Agroalimentario en China), Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) and the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office in Shanghai (Oficina Económica y Comercial de España en Shanghai). Food & Hotel China trade fair is a great opportunity for foreign products to enter the Chinese market, due to the growing interest by the Chinese consumers and their new trend in seeking high quality food products.
Seven Catalan companies have traveled to Shanghai to attend the Food & Hotel China 2011 trade fair. Together with other 56 Spanish companies, they have showcased their products at the Spain's Official Pavillion, under the wing of the Spanish Agriculture and Food Plan in China (Plan Agroalimentario en China), Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) and the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office in Shanghai (Oficina Económica y Comercial de España en Shanghai). Food & Hotel China trade fair is a great opportunity for foreign products to enter the Chinese market, due to the growing interest by the Chinese consumers and their new trend in seeking high quality food products.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Catalan glasses manufacturer Etnia Barcelona sets joint venture in China
From http://www.expansion.com/2011/11/20/catalunya/1321823146.html (in Spanish)
Etnia Barcelona, a Catalan company specialized in manufacturing glasses, has invested 400,000 euros in a new production plant in Shenzhen and has created a joint venture in China with the Hong Kong based company Future Visionaries. Each of the two companies will hold half of the shares of the new one, which is expected to produce up to 800,000 units per year and increase sales up to 35 million € by 2014. Etnia Barcelona, based in Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona province), has 195 employees and exports account for 87% of its sales.
Etnia Barcelona, a Catalan company specialized in manufacturing glasses, has invested 400,000 euros in a new production plant in Shenzhen and has created a joint venture in China with the Hong Kong based company Future Visionaries. Each of the two companies will hold half of the shares of the new one, which is expected to produce up to 800,000 units per year and increase sales up to 35 million € by 2014. Etnia Barcelona, based in Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona province), has 195 employees and exports account for 87% of its sales.
Conference in Barcelona about China's financial sector and the global crisis
From http://www.casaasia.es/media/asset_publics/resources/000/019/559/original/Invitaci_n_22.11.11_-_castellano.pdf (in Spanish)
Xinghai Fang, director of the Office for Financial Services of Shanghai Metropolitan Government, is announced to give a conference in Barcelona on Tuesday November 22nd, 2011. The title of the talk is "China’s financial sector and the global crisis. Challenges and opportunities" and it will take place at 12 pm at the Círculo Ecuestre, at 169 bis Balmes Street. Xinghai Fang will be introduced by Juan María Nin (Executive Vice President and Chief Executive of CaixaBank). The event will also have the participation of Borja García-Nieto, president of Círculo Ecuestre, and Pablo García-Berdoy, general secretary of Aspen Institute España. For additional information, please call at +34 93 415 60 00. Simultaneous translation will be provided.
Xinghai Fang, director of the Office for Financial Services of Shanghai Metropolitan Government, is announced to give a conference in Barcelona on Tuesday November 22nd, 2011. The title of the talk is "China’s financial sector and the global crisis. Challenges and opportunities" and it will take place at 12 pm at the Círculo Ecuestre, at 169 bis Balmes Street. Xinghai Fang will be introduced by Juan María Nin (Executive Vice President and Chief Executive of CaixaBank). The event will also have the participation of Borja García-Nieto, president of Círculo Ecuestre, and Pablo García-Berdoy, general secretary of Aspen Institute España. For additional information, please call at +34 93 415 60 00. Simultaneous translation will be provided.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Chinese company Sunfor Light settles in Catalonia
From http://www.globalasia.com/actualidad/la-empresa-china-sunfor-light-se-instala-en-cataluna (in Spanish)
Chinese company Sunfor Light has chosen Catalonia as home for its distribution center aimed at serving the European and Latin American markets. Sunfor Light has settled in Llinars del Vallès (Barcelona), where 70 new jobs have already been created. The company has also announced an investment of 4 million € for the next 4 years, whereas the sales are expected to reach 3 million € by 2012. Sunfor Light is based in Chengdu, the capital of the province of Sichuan, and has some 300 employees that have developed some hundred patents based on the LED technology.
Chinese company Sunfor Light has chosen Catalonia as home for its distribution center aimed at serving the European and Latin American markets. Sunfor Light has settled in Llinars del Vallès (Barcelona), where 70 new jobs have already been created. The company has also announced an investment of 4 million € for the next 4 years, whereas the sales are expected to reach 3 million € by 2012. Sunfor Light is based in Chengdu, the capital of the province of Sichuan, and has some 300 employees that have developed some hundred patents based on the LED technology.
Catalan rumba band La Pegatina tours China successfully
From http://www.ara.cat/cultura/Pegatina-popularitza-Xina-gracies-socials_0_590341074.html (in Catalan)
[caption id="attachment_1085" align="alignleft" width="159"]
La Pegatina[/caption]
Catalan rumba band La Pegatina is back from a successful musical tour in China, where they played at the Hangzhou Festival for 15,000 people and at several smaller venues. The band originally hails from Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona) and after 7 years they have already played in 13 countries and had millions of downloads of their records, which can be obtained for free as digital files in their website at http://www.lapegatina.com/en/multimedia/downloads, together with other material such as lyrics and chords, clips, wallpapers and even an iPhone/Android app.
La Pegatina was invited to play in China by the organizers by the Hangzhou Festival, which encouraged the band to find other gigs in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. A chronicle of the concert in Beijing can be read at the Beijing Daze blog, under the title of "Catalonia and Mongolia collide when La Pegatina meets Hanggai for a fun show". They are the third Spanish band to play in China, after Berri Txarrak and Fito.
According to one of the members of the band, Rubén Sierra, "Chinese audiences are very interested by everything that comes from the West, due to the recent opening of the society to foreign influences". He also pointed out that they have received a proposal to perform again in China, at the 2012 Midi Festival.
[caption id="attachment_1085" align="alignleft" width="159"]
La Pegatina[/caption]Catalan rumba band La Pegatina is back from a successful musical tour in China, where they played at the Hangzhou Festival for 15,000 people and at several smaller venues. The band originally hails from Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona) and after 7 years they have already played in 13 countries and had millions of downloads of their records, which can be obtained for free as digital files in their website at http://www.lapegatina.com/en/multimedia/downloads, together with other material such as lyrics and chords, clips, wallpapers and even an iPhone/Android app.
La Pegatina was invited to play in China by the organizers by the Hangzhou Festival, which encouraged the band to find other gigs in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. A chronicle of the concert in Beijing can be read at the Beijing Daze blog, under the title of "Catalonia and Mongolia collide when La Pegatina meets Hanggai for a fun show". They are the third Spanish band to play in China, after Berri Txarrak and Fito.
According to one of the members of the band, Rubén Sierra, "Chinese audiences are very interested by everything that comes from the West, due to the recent opening of the society to foreign influences". He also pointed out that they have received a proposal to perform again in China, at the 2012 Midi Festival.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Publications in Chinese of Barcelona City Council
From http://w42.bcn.cat/web/en/media-room/chinesepublications/index.jsp (in English / Chinese)
Because of its position as one of the leading European cities for business matters (see our previous post of Barcelona being voted the 6th best city in 2011), Barcelona City Council has a complete set of information about these issues on its website. Foreign visitors can find an impressive amount of information in English at the Barcelona/Business portal, in which there is a useful Media Room that also features a section of publications in Chinese in order to attract investments from China. The four documents available in Chinese so far are:
Because of its position as one of the leading European cities for business matters (see our previous post of Barcelona being voted the 6th best city in 2011), Barcelona City Council has a complete set of information about these issues on its website. Foreign visitors can find an impressive amount of information in English at the Barcelona/Business portal, in which there is a useful Media Room that also features a section of publications in Chinese in order to attract investments from China. The four documents available in Chinese so far are:
Barcelona Datasheet 2011 (Chinese) 数据 巴塞罗那 2011
Barcelona Economic Triangle (Chinese) 巴塞罗那经济三角区
Setting up in Barcelona (Chinese)
10 reasons to invest in barcelona (Chinese) 我巴塞罗那投资的十大理由
Other presentations in English can be viewed and downloaded from Barcelona BusinessSlideshare account.
Other presentations in English can be viewed and downloaded from Barcelona BusinessSlideshare account.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Catalan commercial missions to China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam
From http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=6575 and http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=6490 (in Catalan)
Two new Catalan commercial missions to East Asia have been arranged for November 2011. Both are departing from Barcelona on November 19th and one is addressed to Shanghai, in China, whereas the other one, organized by the Terrassa Chamber of Commerce, is addressed to the markets in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The goals of the mission to China are: i) to improve the knowledge of Chinese market; ii) to increase the networking with local companies and organizations; and iii) to seek business opportunities.
The proposed schedule is:
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November: Flight Barcelona - Shanghai
Monday 21 November: Presentation of Amec-China and information workshop
Tuesday 22 November: Visit to technological parks and to Spanish companies working in China
Wednesday 23 November: Individualized meetings (optional)/Networking dinner with experts
Thursday 24 November: Workshop – Individual advisory interviews to understand the Chinese market
Divendres 25 November: Flight Shanghai - Barcelona
Venue: 1201 Westgate Mall, 1038 Nanjing (w) Road, Shanghai
View Larger Map
The goals of the mission to in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam are to analyze the economic opportunities and the competitive factors that these countries can offer and to establish business relationships with local companies.
An individualized schedule of business contacts will provided in collaboration with the ACC1Ó office in Singapore and with the Spanish Economic & Commercial Office in Vietnam, according with the requirements of each company. For further information, please contact Mrs. Natàlia Bertran at nbertran@cambraterrassa.es, phone +34 93 7339837.
Two new Catalan commercial missions to East Asia have been arranged for November 2011. Both are departing from Barcelona on November 19th and one is addressed to Shanghai, in China, whereas the other one, organized by the Terrassa Chamber of Commerce, is addressed to the markets in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The goals of the mission to China are: i) to improve the knowledge of Chinese market; ii) to increase the networking with local companies and organizations; and iii) to seek business opportunities.
The proposed schedule is:
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November: Flight Barcelona - Shanghai
Monday 21 November: Presentation of Amec-China and information workshop
Tuesday 22 November: Visit to technological parks and to Spanish companies working in China
Wednesday 23 November: Individualized meetings (optional)/Networking dinner with experts
Thursday 24 November: Workshop – Individual advisory interviews to understand the Chinese market
Divendres 25 November: Flight Shanghai - Barcelona
Venue: 1201 Westgate Mall, 1038 Nanjing (w) Road, Shanghai
View Larger Map
The goals of the mission to in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam are to analyze the economic opportunities and the competitive factors that these countries can offer and to establish business relationships with local companies.
An individualized schedule of business contacts will provided in collaboration with the ACC1Ó office in Singapore and with the Spanish Economic & Commercial Office in Vietnam, according with the requirements of each company. For further information, please contact Mrs. Natàlia Bertran at nbertran@cambraterrassa.es, phone +34 93 7339837.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Technological and innovation bridge to China organized in Barcelona
Barcelona NETactiva is organizing a promotional mission (“Pont Tecnològic”, Technological Bridge) to China from November 28th to December 2nd, 2011 specially addressed to information technology (IT) companies willing to work there. China is nowadays the first country in the world exporting IT products and offers great opportunities in the sectors of e-commerce, cell phone and mobile internet services, among others. This technological bridge will include a common program, with visits to Chinese companies and organizations, and attendance to workshops, networking events and showcases. There will also be a specific program of businesses contacts specially designed for each of the companies taking part on this mission. Companies may be eligible for receiving funding from ACC1Ó, provided the fulfillment of its requirements.
For further information contact Mrs. Laura Espiau with Barcelona NETactiva at laura.espiau@barcelonactiva.cat, phone +34 932917777, or Mrs. Judith Padrós, with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce at jpadros@cambrabcn.org, phone +34934169356.
For further information contact Mrs. Laura Espiau with Barcelona NETactiva at laura.espiau@barcelonactiva.cat, phone +34 932917777, or Mrs. Judith Padrós, with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce at jpadros@cambrabcn.org, phone +34934169356.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Casa Àsia Barcelona will hold the 8th East-West Dialogue 2011
From http://www.casaasia.es/dialogo/eng/index.html (in English)
The city of Barcelona will be holding the 8th East-West Dialogue on November 8th-9th, 2011, with the title of "For a New Global Governance Agenda", an event organized annually by Casa Àsia and the Barcelona City Council. This eighth Dialogue is devoted to analyzing the current world situation and the role played by international institutions, as well as by political leaders. The activities related to this event could be followed on Twitter using the hashtag #eastwest.
The program for the 8th East-West Dialogue is as follows:
8th of November 2011 / From 4.30pm to 7pm
Barcelona City Hall, Saló de Cent (Plaça Sant Jaume, 1 - Barcelona) 9th of November 2011 / From 10am to 7pm
Casa Asia, Tagore Auditorium (Avinguda Diagonal, 373 - Barcelona) Free entry prior registration / Limited capacity
The city of Barcelona will be holding the 8th East-West Dialogue on November 8th-9th, 2011, with the title of "For a New Global Governance Agenda", an event organized annually by Casa Àsia and the Barcelona City Council. This eighth Dialogue is devoted to analyzing the current world situation and the role played by international institutions, as well as by political leaders. The activities related to this event could be followed on Twitter using the hashtag #eastwest.
The program for the 8th East-West Dialogue is as follows:
Barcelona City Hall, Saló de Cent (Plaça Sant Jaume, 1 - Barcelona)
Casa Asia, Tagore Auditorium (Avinguda Diagonal, 373 - Barcelona)
China acknowledges the leadership of Spanish water companies
From http://www.iagua.es/noticias/china/11/11/02/china-reconoce-el-liderazgo-de-las-empresas-espanolas-del-sector-del-agua-10854#.TrG9EOyLfew (in Spanish)
The Spanish Minister of Environment, and Rural and Marine Environments, Mrs. Rosa Aguilar, has held a meeting with the Chinese Vice Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Hu Siyi, with whom she has signed an agreement to reinforce cooperation between China and Spain on water-related issues. The agreement has been signed after the meeting and is supposed to serve for 5 years as a platform for Spanish companies of the water sector to work in the Chinese market, specially in areas such as planning strategies on water policies, water conservation on agricultural irrigation, reservoir management, desalination, wastewater treatment, water reuse and water quality control, as well as staff training. On the framework of this agreement, both countries have agreed to promote cooperation between river basin authorities, water research centers and companies, as well as to organize high-level visits for experts and joint workshops.
Mrs. Rosa Aguilar and Mr. Hu Siyi have stated that both China and Spain have irregular water distribution and the Chinese Vice Minister has acknowledged the work done by the Spanish government to secure water supply through desalination, which makes Spain as the 4th country in the world with the highest desalination capacity. Water reuse is another area in which Spain occupies a prominent position -second in the world, right after Israel. Because of all this, Mr. Hu Siyi has invited Spain to take part on the 5th International Forum on the the Yellow River (黄河), that will be held in China on October 2012.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="368"]
Visit of environmental Chinese delegation to Costa Brava water reuse projects in October 2011[/caption]
Yellow River
Wikipedia: The Yellow River or Huang He is the second-longest river in Asia, following the Yangtze River, and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of. →
The Spanish Minister of Environment, and Rural and Marine Environments, Mrs. Rosa Aguilar, has held a meeting with the Chinese Vice Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Hu Siyi, with whom she has signed an agreement to reinforce cooperation between China and Spain on water-related issues. The agreement has been signed after the meeting and is supposed to serve for 5 years as a platform for Spanish companies of the water sector to work in the Chinese market, specially in areas such as planning strategies on water policies, water conservation on agricultural irrigation, reservoir management, desalination, wastewater treatment, water reuse and water quality control, as well as staff training. On the framework of this agreement, both countries have agreed to promote cooperation between river basin authorities, water research centers and companies, as well as to organize high-level visits for experts and joint workshops.
Mrs. Rosa Aguilar and Mr. Hu Siyi have stated that both China and Spain have irregular water distribution and the Chinese Vice Minister has acknowledged the work done by the Spanish government to secure water supply through desalination, which makes Spain as the 4th country in the world with the highest desalination capacity. Water reuse is another area in which Spain occupies a prominent position -second in the world, right after Israel. Because of all this, Mr. Hu Siyi has invited Spain to take part on the 5th International Forum on the the Yellow River (黄河), that will be held in China on October 2012.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="368"]
Visit of environmental Chinese delegation to Costa Brava water reuse projects in October 2011[/caption]Yellow RiverWikipedia: The Yellow River or Huang He is the second-longest river in Asia, following the Yangtze River, and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of. →
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
China and Spain will sign a cooperation agreement on water management
From http://www.iagua.es/noticias/china/11/10/30/espana-y-china-firmaran-un-%E2%80%9Cmemorando-de-entendimiento-en-materia-de-recursos-de-agua%E2%80%9D-10848 (in Spanish)
The Spanish Minister of Environment, and Rural and Marine Environments, Mrs. Rosa Aguilar, has started an official trip to China aimed at showcasing the potential for exports of the Spanish food sector and also to reinforce the Spanish-Chinese cooperation on water management. She is expected to have a meeting with the Chinese Vice Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Hu Siyi, with whom she will sign a cooperation agreement on water management. Mrs. Rosa Aguilar will also introduce the leadership potential of Spanish water companies in order to help them get into the promising Chinese market.
The Spanish Minister of Environment, and Rural and Marine Environments, Mrs. Rosa Aguilar, has started an official trip to China aimed at showcasing the potential for exports of the Spanish food sector and also to reinforce the Spanish-Chinese cooperation on water management. She is expected to have a meeting with the Chinese Vice Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Hu Siyi, with whom she will sign a cooperation agreement on water management. Mrs. Rosa Aguilar will also introduce the leadership potential of Spanish water companies in order to help them get into the promising Chinese market.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Visit of environmental Chinese delegation to Costa Brava water reuse projects
From http://80.37.62.109:8081/notapremsa/not-llegir.php?id=168 (in Catalan)
A delegation of members from the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (中华人民共和国环境保护部), the Changjiang Water Resources Commission (长江水利委员会) and the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (黄河水利委员会) visited two water reuse projects in Costa Brava, in Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar (Girona, Catalonia) on October 22nd, 2011, as part of the EU China River Basin Management Program (RBMP) to strengthen their capacity in decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse. The delegation was lead by Dutch professor Peter van der Steen, coordinator of the modules "Integrated Urban Water Management" and "Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse" at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. The aim of the visit was to learn from the experience of Consorci Costa Brava on water reclamation and reuse in the two municipalities that started having a municipal network for the distribution of reclaimed water for non-potable purposes, as a means to conserve water and save energy -as compared with the energy costs of drinking water production and supply in the area-. The delegation visited the Tossa de Mar water reclamation treatment and the main reuse sites in the village, as well as the Santa Clotilde gardens in Lloret de Mar, where reclaimed water is used since May 2007.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="368"]
Visit at the Tossa de Mar reclamation plant[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="351"]
Group picture of the delegation at the Santa Clotilde gardens, Lloret de Mar[/caption]
More pictures of these visits to Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar can be seen at the Sinalunya Flickr site.
A delegation of members from the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (中华人民共和国环境保护部), the Changjiang Water Resources Commission (长江水利委员会) and the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (黄河水利委员会) visited two water reuse projects in Costa Brava, in Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar (Girona, Catalonia) on October 22nd, 2011, as part of the EU China River Basin Management Program (RBMP) to strengthen their capacity in decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse. The delegation was lead by Dutch professor Peter van der Steen, coordinator of the modules "Integrated Urban Water Management" and "Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse" at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. The aim of the visit was to learn from the experience of Consorci Costa Brava on water reclamation and reuse in the two municipalities that started having a municipal network for the distribution of reclaimed water for non-potable purposes, as a means to conserve water and save energy -as compared with the energy costs of drinking water production and supply in the area-. The delegation visited the Tossa de Mar water reclamation treatment and the main reuse sites in the village, as well as the Santa Clotilde gardens in Lloret de Mar, where reclaimed water is used since May 2007.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="368"]
Visit at the Tossa de Mar reclamation plant[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="351"]
Group picture of the delegation at the Santa Clotilde gardens, Lloret de Mar[/caption]More pictures of these visits to Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar can be seen at the Sinalunya Flickr site.
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