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"]
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