From http://www.eic.cat/wps/PA_Jornades/fitxa.jsp?codi=1087342 (in Catalan)
The Commision on Industrial Policy and Technological Innovation of the College of Industrial Engineers of Catalonia is organizing a workshop in Barcelona on June 6th, 2013 aimed at understanding the keys to selling in China, making special emphasis on the comparison of what the new technologies can offer with respect to the traditional marketing ways. The workshop will include a detailed analysis of the main Chinese social networks (Sina Weibo -新浪微博-, RenRen -人人-, Youku -优酷-) and what are the main differences with respect to the most popular ones in western countries.
This free event will start at 6:30 pm and it will take place at the Master room, Building A3, North Campus, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), at the Jordi Girona street in Barcelona. Click on this link to see a map of its location.
Programme
"Selling in China: Keys to successful positioning of products in China, marketing strategies and positioning of products" by Manu Sánchez Monasterio, President of the "China Marketing Centre" Club Marketing Barcelona, Partner HaoLeChina Beijing Office, ESADE China Europe Club Executive Committee Member & ESADE China Team Founder
"Introduction to the Digital Marketing and Social Networks in China, main differences with Western networks and main tools (Sina Weibo, RenRen, Youku)" by Roger Nierga, Owner & CEO in Fengling, consulting firm specialized in strategies Social Media for the Chinese market
"Practical case: The experience of Freixenet in China" by Gil Serra, China Manager, Freixenet
The workshop will be moderated by Joaquin Calsina, Sales Manager of Espacio Solar S.L. and member of the China Working Group
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Presented the first video ad of this year's Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic
From http://cinemaoriental.com/en/portfolio-item/les-nits-ja-tenen-espot/ (in English)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="451"]
Asian Summer Film Festival (image from Arkham Studio website)[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="451"]
Asian Summer Film Festival (image from Arkham Studio website)[/caption]After disclosing some of the movies that will be displayed during the 10th edition of the Asian Summer Film Festival, the organization has released the first video ad of this year, starred by Xi Wang, the festival's mascot. In this multigenre little summary, the Formosa bear visits some of the commonplaces of popular Asian cinema, but also dares to cook and perform traditional dances. Fans will be able to find references to Kaijū eiga (怪獣映画), Wuxia (武俠), Heroic bloodshed, J-horror or Bollywood. The ad has been made by Arkham Studio, Estudi Xevidom and Moviola Produccions and it will be screened before every film.
Chinese Minister of Science and Technology visits Catalonia
From http://www.ara.cat/politica/Artur_Mas-Xina-govern_xines-Mare_Nostrum-universitats_0_925707669.html (in Catalan)
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="399"]
Catalan President Artur Mas with Wan Gang, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology (picture from the website of Ara.cat)[/caption]
The President of Catalan government, Artur Mas, and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, Wan Gang (万钢), have recently met in Barcelona. The main interests of Wan Gang's visit were to know first hand the ALBA Synchrotron, the first one of its kind and located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona province), as well as the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, also considered as a reference centre not only in Spain but also in Europe. President Artur Mas was sided by Roger Albinyana, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and European Union, and by Antoni Castellà, Secretary for Universities and Research.
Thanks to the agreements with the Spanish Secretary of State for R+D, Carmen Vela, the scientific collaboration between these two countries is expected to tighten in fields such as biotechnology, health and life sciences and environment. It is expected that Spanish researchers would be able to work in facilities like the Shanghai particle accelerator (上海光源) whereas the Chinese ones would be able to do it in the ALBA Synchrotron.
Another subject that has been dealt during Wan Gang's visit is the exchange of students between the Catalan and Chinese universities. In the next academic term the Catalan government will open an office to specifically advise the students coming from China, something that both the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra already have in China. Nowadays, 3% of the foreign students in Catalonia come from China and the goal is to double this percentage in the next few years.
Between March 11th and 14th, 2013, representatives of the Catalan government and of the main universities of Catalonia travelled to Hong Kong to attend for the first time the annual conference of the Asia Pacific Association for International Education, APAIE, the most important university fair in Asia and one of the most prominent in the world. The goal of this mission was to promote the internationalization of the Catalan university and research systems under the brand Study in Catalonia.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="399"]
Catalan President Artur Mas with Wan Gang, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology (picture from the website of Ara.cat)[/caption]The President of Catalan government, Artur Mas, and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, Wan Gang (万钢), have recently met in Barcelona. The main interests of Wan Gang's visit were to know first hand the ALBA Synchrotron, the first one of its kind and located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona province), as well as the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, also considered as a reference centre not only in Spain but also in Europe. President Artur Mas was sided by Roger Albinyana, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and European Union, and by Antoni Castellà, Secretary for Universities and Research.
Thanks to the agreements with the Spanish Secretary of State for R+D, Carmen Vela, the scientific collaboration between these two countries is expected to tighten in fields such as biotechnology, health and life sciences and environment. It is expected that Spanish researchers would be able to work in facilities like the Shanghai particle accelerator (上海光源) whereas the Chinese ones would be able to do it in the ALBA Synchrotron.
Another subject that has been dealt during Wan Gang's visit is the exchange of students between the Catalan and Chinese universities. In the next academic term the Catalan government will open an office to specifically advise the students coming from China, something that both the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra already have in China. Nowadays, 3% of the foreign students in Catalonia come from China and the goal is to double this percentage in the next few years.
Between March 11th and 14th, 2013, representatives of the Catalan government and of the main universities of Catalonia travelled to Hong Kong to attend for the first time the annual conference of the Asia Pacific Association for International Education, APAIE, the most important university fair in Asia and one of the most prominent in the world. The goal of this mission was to promote the internationalization of the Catalan university and research systems under the brand Study in Catalonia.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Catalan commercial mission to the Lighting Fair in Guangzhou, China
From http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=8500 (in Catalan)
The Lighting Fair Guangzhou 2013 (广州国际照明展览会) concentrates the greatest amount of exhibitors of this kind in China. CICAT, the Catalan Lighting Cluster, is organizing a commercial mission to this event for Catalan companies between June 7th and 15th, 2013. For further information, please contact Mr. Josep M. Vidal-Ribas by phone (+34 661 577 476) or email.
The Lighting Fair Guangzhou 2013 (广州国际照明展览会) concentrates the greatest amount of exhibitors of this kind in China. CICAT, the Catalan Lighting Cluster, is organizing a commercial mission to this event for Catalan companies between June 7th and 15th, 2013. For further information, please contact Mr. Josep M. Vidal-Ribas by phone (+34 661 577 476) or email.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Commercial mission to China of Catalan life sciences companies
From http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=8815 (in Catalan)
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="282"]
Commercial mission to China of Catalan life sciences companies (image from Biocat website)[/caption]
Between May 26th - 31st, 2013, ACC1Ó-Competitiveness for Catalonia is organizing a commercial mission to China for Catalan life sciences companies, in the framework of the bioXclusters European project that also includes companies from Baviera (Germany), Piemonte (Italy) and Rhône-Alpes (France). This mission will include visits to the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park (张江高科技园区) and the Juke Biotech Park (上海聚科生物产业园区), both located in Shanghai, and the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (中国—新加坡苏州工业园区), that will be key to know and understand first hand the Chinese health system. Other activities included in the program are the attendance to the Sino-European Biopartnering event (SEBP) and to the 15th Shanghai International Forum on Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Industry (BIO-FORUM 2013). For further information, download the delegation brochure for this specific mission and/or contact Ms. Carmen Martí by phone (+34 933 103 389) or by email.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="282"]
Commercial mission to China of Catalan life sciences companies (image from Biocat website)[/caption]Between May 26th - 31st, 2013, ACC1Ó-Competitiveness for Catalonia is organizing a commercial mission to China for Catalan life sciences companies, in the framework of the bioXclusters European project that also includes companies from Baviera (Germany), Piemonte (Italy) and Rhône-Alpes (France). This mission will include visits to the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park (张江高科技园区) and the Juke Biotech Park (上海聚科生物产业园区), both located in Shanghai, and the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (中国—新加坡苏州工业园区), that will be key to know and understand first hand the Chinese health system. Other activities included in the program are the attendance to the Sino-European Biopartnering event (SEBP) and to the 15th Shanghai International Forum on Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Industry (BIO-FORUM 2013). For further information, download the delegation brochure for this specific mission and/or contact Ms. Carmen Martí by phone (+34 933 103 389) or by email.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Session on how to sell in China through Taobao
From http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=9226 (in Catalan)
On June 12th, 2013 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, CECOT is organizing a 2-hour informative session in their headquarters in Terrassa (Barcelona province) on how to sell in China through Taobao (淘宝网), a Chinese web site for on-line shopping that belongs to the Alibaba Group (阿里巴巴集团). Taobao provides a platform for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs to open on-line retail stores that mainly cater to consumers in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The session will be conducted by Josep Ramon Obis, fashion expert that has been managing a shop in Taobao for the last two years.
On June 12th, 2013 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, CECOT is organizing a 2-hour informative session in their headquarters in Terrassa (Barcelona province) on how to sell in China through Taobao (淘宝网), a Chinese web site for on-line shopping that belongs to the Alibaba Group (阿里巴巴集团). Taobao provides a platform for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs to open on-line retail stores that mainly cater to consumers in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The session will be conducted by Josep Ramon Obis, fashion expert that has been managing a shop in Taobao for the last two years.
Forum on the roadmap for investments between China and Spain organized in Barcelona
From http://agenda.acc10.cat/agenda/default.php?id=9218 (in English)
Barcelona Fang Consulting, a brand management company specialized in introducing Western premium products into the Greater China market, will the presenting the study “Roadmap for Investment between China-Spain” on the forum to take place on June 6th, 2013 at IESE Business School Auditorium. The report will reflect an international joint effort by IESE, Barcelona Fang Consulting and Horizon Research Group. The objective is to present the most updated key findings related to China-Spain projects in the industries of automobile, agriculture, real estate, tourism and luxury goods. This study will also help Chinese and Spanish companies find opportunities for investment, mergers, acquisition, joint ventures and new ways of cooperation between the two countries. Well-known entrepreneurs both from China and from Spain will attend this important event, which marks the new stage of international business.
This session is scheduled between 9:30 and 11:0 am and will have the presentations by Pedro Nueno, Holder of the Bertrán Foundation Chair of Entrepreneurship at IESE and President of CEIBS; and Xi Feng, Vice President, Horizon Research Group; President, Horizon Institute of Global Development Power. Pedro Nueno will present the key findings of joint research from Spanish perspective, whereas Xi Feng will do so from the Chinese perspective. The event fill finish with a open discussion with the attendants.
For further information, please contact Ms. Sheila Garcia either by phone (+34 931 592 980) or by email.
Barcelona Fang Consulting, a brand management company specialized in introducing Western premium products into the Greater China market, will the presenting the study “Roadmap for Investment between China-Spain” on the forum to take place on June 6th, 2013 at IESE Business School Auditorium. The report will reflect an international joint effort by IESE, Barcelona Fang Consulting and Horizon Research Group. The objective is to present the most updated key findings related to China-Spain projects in the industries of automobile, agriculture, real estate, tourism and luxury goods. This study will also help Chinese and Spanish companies find opportunities for investment, mergers, acquisition, joint ventures and new ways of cooperation between the two countries. Well-known entrepreneurs both from China and from Spain will attend this important event, which marks the new stage of international business.
This session is scheduled between 9:30 and 11:0 am and will have the presentations by Pedro Nueno, Holder of the Bertrán Foundation Chair of Entrepreneurship at IESE and President of CEIBS; and Xi Feng, Vice President, Horizon Research Group; President, Horizon Institute of Global Development Power. Pedro Nueno will present the key findings of joint research from Spanish perspective, whereas Xi Feng will do so from the Chinese perspective. The event fill finish with a open discussion with the attendants.
For further information, please contact Ms. Sheila Garcia either by phone (+34 931 592 980) or by email.
Barcelona gets ready to receive real estate investments from China
From http://www.globalasia.com/actualidad/economia/barcelona-atraer-inversion-inmobiliaria-china (in Spanish)
Barcelona is actively working on the organization of the first China Meeting Point in October 2013, aimed at attracting Chinese investments towards the Spanish real estate market. This event will be included among the activities of the 17th edition of the Barcelona Meeting Point and it will be held at the Fira de Barcelona facilities.
According to Enric Lacalle, President of the Barcelona Meeting Point, Chinese citizens are already investing in Spain. However, this initiative pretends to reinforce the relationship between the two countries and increase the volume of real estate investments from China in the forthcoming years.
According to Qi Zhou Lidan General Manager of the consulting company Puente China España S.L., the potential interest of the Chinese citizens is due to their perception of real estate being a safe investment, but also because of their growing interest in sending their sons and daughters to study abroad.
Barcelona is actively working on the organization of the first China Meeting Point in October 2013, aimed at attracting Chinese investments towards the Spanish real estate market. This event will be included among the activities of the 17th edition of the Barcelona Meeting Point and it will be held at the Fira de Barcelona facilities.
According to Enric Lacalle, President of the Barcelona Meeting Point, Chinese citizens are already investing in Spain. However, this initiative pretends to reinforce the relationship between the two countries and increase the volume of real estate investments from China in the forthcoming years.
According to Qi Zhou Lidan General Manager of the consulting company Puente China España S.L., the potential interest of the Chinese citizens is due to their perception of real estate being a safe investment, but also because of their growing interest in sending their sons and daughters to study abroad.
Conference "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" organized in Barcelona
From http://www.casaasia.eu/actividad/detalle?id=210705 (in English)
The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce together with Casa Asia are organizing in Barcelona this conference entitled "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" aimed at explaining the situation in Hong Kong and the opportunities for businesses and investments that it offers. It will take place on Tuesday May 28th, 2013 from 8:45 to 11:45 am at the headquarters of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Diagonal Avenue, 452, Barcelona.
Programme
8.45 h - 9.00 h - Reception of attendants
9.00 h - 9.05 h Welcoming address by Josep Mª Cervera, International Director, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce
9.05 h - 9.25 h "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong: opportunities in an rising region", by Stephen Wong, Regional Director, Europe Hong Kong Trade Development Council
9.25 h - 9.40 h "Fiscal and Legal Aspects to do Business in Hong Kong and benefits of the Double Taxation Treaty for Catalan Companies", by Álvaro Hernández-Puértolas and Tomàs Lamarca, partners at NetCraman
Moderator: Joan Canals, President of the International Committee of Foment del Treball Nacional
10.20 h - 10.40 h Discussion
10.40 h - 10.45 h Closing speech by Mario Rubert, Director of Promotion of Foreign Economic Activity at the Barcelona City Council
10.45 h - 11.45 h Networking
Free entrance with previous registration.
The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce together with Casa Asia are organizing in Barcelona this conference entitled "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" aimed at explaining the situation in Hong Kong and the opportunities for businesses and investments that it offers. It will take place on Tuesday May 28th, 2013 from 8:45 to 11:45 am at the headquarters of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Diagonal Avenue, 452, Barcelona.
Programme
8.45 h - 9.00 h - Reception of attendants
9.00 h - 9.05 h Welcoming address by Josep Mª Cervera, International Director, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce
9.05 h - 9.25 h "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong: opportunities in an rising region", by Stephen Wong, Regional Director, Europe Hong Kong Trade Development Council
9.25 h - 9.40 h "Fiscal and Legal Aspects to do Business in Hong Kong and benefits of the Double Taxation Treaty for Catalan Companies", by Álvaro Hernández-Puértolas and Tomàs Lamarca, partners at NetCraman
9.40 h - 10.20 h Sectorial presentations: "Opportunities and challenges for companies in Hong Kong and Asia", by Juan Pascual Bardera, CEO Diktons; Gerard Sanmartí, CEO LaGranja Design; and Oriol Domènech Vidal, CEO and oenologist at Vallformosa
Moderator: Joan Canals, President of the International Committee of Foment del Treball Nacional
10.20 h - 10.40 h Discussion
10.40 h - 10.45 h Closing speech by Mario Rubert, Director of Promotion of Foreign Economic Activity at the Barcelona City Council
10.45 h - 11.45 h Networking
Free entrance with previous registration.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Barcelona architects Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas aim at Chinese and Taiwanese markets
Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes (CFS) is an architecture office in Barcelona founded in 2000 and led by Pilar Calderon, Marc Folch and Pol Sarsanedas that has been awarded in Spain in 2004 and 2012 with the AJAC prize for Young Architects and the Isover Energetic Efficiency Prize 2012. Apart from the quality of their designs, they are renowned for working with the most up-to-date sustainability and urban strategy criteria and they have been certified Passive House Designers by the Passivhaus Institute (Germany).
During these 13 years Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes have worked on many different scale projects from the initial conceptual designs, the development of detailed projects and further on-site works supervision. Most of them have become reality after winning open international architecture competitions both in Spain and abroad. Some of the most prominent results have been a 3rd prize in the competition for the New Campus for the UTEC University in Lima, Perú; the 3rd prize in the competition of the New Yacht Marina and Facilities in Bydgoszcz, Poland; and the 1st prize in competition for the Center Léonce Georges in Chauffailles (France), a building that is already completed at this moment.
Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes are aiming now at new markets. In the process of getting known in other parts of the world, they have recently had their website translated into both simplified and traditional Chinese, in order to let professionals from China and Taiwan to learn about their work from first hand. They are currently establishing contacts with architecture studios in these two countries, in order to find new insights, fresh angles, challenging ideas and, why not, rewarding projects to be jointly developed.
If interested in establishing contact with Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes, you can do it via email at cfs@cfs.cat.
Here there are some samples of their work:
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"]
Yacht Marina and Facilities in Bydgoszcz (Poland), 3rd Prize in open competition (Image from Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas website)[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"]
Cultural Centre Léonce-Georges, Chauffailles (France), 1st prize restricted competition (Image from Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas website)[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"]
Low Energy MZ House, ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards 2012 and Ajac Young Catalan Architects Awards 2012 (image from Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes)[/caption]
During these 13 years Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes have worked on many different scale projects from the initial conceptual designs, the development of detailed projects and further on-site works supervision. Most of them have become reality after winning open international architecture competitions both in Spain and abroad. Some of the most prominent results have been a 3rd prize in the competition for the New Campus for the UTEC University in Lima, Perú; the 3rd prize in the competition of the New Yacht Marina and Facilities in Bydgoszcz, Poland; and the 1st prize in competition for the Center Léonce Georges in Chauffailles (France), a building that is already completed at this moment.
Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes are aiming now at new markets. In the process of getting known in other parts of the world, they have recently had their website translated into both simplified and traditional Chinese, in order to let professionals from China and Taiwan to learn about their work from first hand. They are currently establishing contacts with architecture studios in these two countries, in order to find new insights, fresh angles, challenging ideas and, why not, rewarding projects to be jointly developed.
If interested in establishing contact with Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes, you can do it via email at cfs@cfs.cat.
Here there are some samples of their work:
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"]
Yacht Marina and Facilities in Bydgoszcz (Poland), 3rd Prize in open competition (Image from Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas website)[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"]
Cultural Centre Léonce-Georges, Chauffailles (France), 1st prize restricted competition (Image from Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas website)[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"]
Low Energy MZ House, ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards 2012 and Ajac Young Catalan Architects Awards 2012 (image from Calderon-Folch-Sarsanedas Arquitectes)[/caption]Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Conference in Barcelona about China and the world in 2020
From http://www.casaasia.cat/actividad/detalle?id=210699 (in Catalan)
[caption id="attachment_2255" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Beijing airport, November 2012[/caption]
On Monday, May 27th 2013, Caixa Forum Barcelona will host the conference "China and the world: Towards 2020" by Professor Pedro Nueno (Professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship IESE and Professor and President of CEIBS Shanghai) and organized by CEIBS with the collaboration of Casa Àsia.
This session will analyze how the continued growth of China can affect the world's economy, the different currencies, the resources and the pollution. From a European perspective, Professor Pedro Nueno will also discuss how can we benefit from both the massive investments of Chinese companies abroad and also from the already increasing Chinese tourism that is visiting our continent.
The event will take place at Caixa Forum Barcelona, Avinguda Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8, 08038 Barcelona, at 7 pm. Entrance will be free with previous registration by email at croy@ceibs.edu (please include name, surname and phone number).
[caption id="attachment_2255" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Beijing airport, November 2012[/caption]On Monday, May 27th 2013, Caixa Forum Barcelona will host the conference "China and the world: Towards 2020" by Professor Pedro Nueno (Professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship IESE and Professor and President of CEIBS Shanghai) and organized by CEIBS with the collaboration of Casa Àsia.
This session will analyze how the continued growth of China can affect the world's economy, the different currencies, the resources and the pollution. From a European perspective, Professor Pedro Nueno will also discuss how can we benefit from both the massive investments of Chinese companies abroad and also from the already increasing Chinese tourism that is visiting our continent.
The event will take place at Caixa Forum Barcelona, Avinguda Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8, 08038 Barcelona, at 7 pm. Entrance will be free with previous registration by email at croy@ceibs.edu (please include name, surname and phone number).
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Barcelona based Galeria Mayoral at the Hong Kong's edition of Art Basel
From http://www.galeriamayoral.com/en/Fires/Basel%20Hong%20Kong/21/ (in English)
Barcelona-based Galeria Mayoral is attending the Hong Kong's edition of Art Basel, where there will be on display the highest quality of paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, video and artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, by more than 2,000 artists from Asia and around the globe. Galeria Mayoral is going to display a Solo Show Miró, based on the works of renowned Catalan painter Joan Miró.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="414"]
Personnages et oiseaux, by Joan Miró (Image from Art Basel website)[/caption]
Barcelona-based Galeria Mayoral is attending the Hong Kong's edition of Art Basel, where there will be on display the highest quality of paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, video and artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, by more than 2,000 artists from Asia and around the globe. Galeria Mayoral is going to display a Solo Show Miró, based on the works of renowned Catalan painter Joan Miró.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="414"]
Personnages et oiseaux, by Joan Miró (Image from Art Basel website)[/caption]
Catalan wineries aim at Chinese market to overcome crisis
From http://www.lavanguardia.com/ocio/20130515/54374110984/bodegueros-catalanes-china-exterior-crisis.html (in Spanish)
Catalan wine producers are increasingly looking abroad to try to overcome the crisis and they are specially aiming at the Chinese market and other markets outside of Europe, according to Núria Ruiz, export manager of the Associació Vinícola Catalana (Catalan Wine Association), an organization that represents 90% of the bottled wine produced in Catalonia.
Núria Ruiz has explained that 70 Catalan wineries are currently taking part in the promotion actions organized by the Associació Vinícola Catalana to promote their products outside of European Union. The requirements for the wineries to be eligible for these promotion actions are to have their headquarters in Catalonia, to sell wines and cava wines with a Catalan controlled designation of origin, to have retail prices from 15 US dollars and to have received at least 89 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate or at least 90 points in other prestigious national and/or international wine guides.
Núria Ruiz also explains that because of the crisis and the decrease of consumption in Spain, there is a growing interest to export abroad. 25 Catalan wineries are already working together to promote their products in the Food & Hotel 2013 trade fair (2013上海国际食品饮料及餐饮设备展览会) in Shanghai in November 2013, that will include the ProWine China 2013 fair (2013上海国际葡萄酒展). There they will try to reach commercial agreements with wine distributors and representatives of supermarkets in order to reach the final consumer through the most direct way.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Grapes in a vine, Tarragona province (September 2012)[/caption]
Catalan wine producers are increasingly looking abroad to try to overcome the crisis and they are specially aiming at the Chinese market and other markets outside of Europe, according to Núria Ruiz, export manager of the Associació Vinícola Catalana (Catalan Wine Association), an organization that represents 90% of the bottled wine produced in Catalonia.
Núria Ruiz has explained that 70 Catalan wineries are currently taking part in the promotion actions organized by the Associació Vinícola Catalana to promote their products outside of European Union. The requirements for the wineries to be eligible for these promotion actions are to have their headquarters in Catalonia, to sell wines and cava wines with a Catalan controlled designation of origin, to have retail prices from 15 US dollars and to have received at least 89 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate or at least 90 points in other prestigious national and/or international wine guides.
Núria Ruiz also explains that because of the crisis and the decrease of consumption in Spain, there is a growing interest to export abroad. 25 Catalan wineries are already working together to promote their products in the Food & Hotel 2013 trade fair (2013上海国际食品饮料及餐饮设备展览会) in Shanghai in November 2013, that will include the ProWine China 2013 fair (2013上海国际葡萄酒展). There they will try to reach commercial agreements with wine distributors and representatives of supermarkets in order to reach the final consumer through the most direct way.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Grapes in a vine, Tarragona province (September 2012)[/caption]
Friday, May 17, 2013
Banyoles organizes second edition of the Dragon Boat Festival
From http://dragonboatbanyoles.com
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
2nd Dragon Boat Festival in Banyoles, 18 May 2013[/caption]
After a succesful first edition in 2012, Club Natació Banyoles and Agenda Sports & Elements, in collaboration with the Banyoles City Council and Casa Asia are organizing a second edition of the Dragon Boat Festival (龍船節) in Banyoles Lake for May 18th, 2013. Further information can be found at http://dragonboatbanyoles.com.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
2nd Dragon Boat Festival in Banyoles, 18 May 2013[/caption]After a succesful first edition in 2012, Club Natació Banyoles and Agenda Sports & Elements, in collaboration with the Banyoles City Council and Casa Asia are organizing a second edition of the Dragon Boat Festival (龍船節) in Banyoles Lake for May 18th, 2013. Further information can be found at http://dragonboatbanyoles.com.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Disclosed first movies for the Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic
From http://cinemaoriental.com/ca/portfolio-item/avanc-de-programacio (in Catalan)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350"]
Image from the movie Joyful Reunion (飲食男女好遠又好近) from Film Business Asia website[/caption]
This year the Asian Summer Film Festival (Festival Nits de Cinema Oriental) will project more movies than ever before. Sixteen titles will be displayed in the official competition of the festival to win the Lucky Cat (Gat de la Sort), given by popular votes. The festival will also display a selection of Taiwanese films, of morning children's movies and other special night projections.
So far, these are the movies that have been announced for this year's festival:
The opening movie will be The Soul of Bread (愛的麵包魂), by Sean Kao (高炳權) and Lin Chun-Yang (林君陽).
Finally, the festival organizers also presented this year's poster, with the mascot Xi Wang, the Formosa bear.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
2013 poster of the Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic with the mascot Xi Wang, the Formosa bear[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350"]
Image from the movie Joyful Reunion (飲食男女好遠又好近) from Film Business Asia website[/caption]This year the Asian Summer Film Festival (Festival Nits de Cinema Oriental) will project more movies than ever before. Sixteen titles will be displayed in the official competition of the festival to win the Lucky Cat (Gat de la Sort), given by popular votes. The festival will also display a selection of Taiwanese films, of morning children's movies and other special night projections.
So far, these are the movies that have been announced for this year's festival:
- The Last Tycoon (大上海), by Wong Jing (王晶)
- Wu Dang (大武当之天地密码), by Patrick Leung (梁柏坚)
- Lost in Thailand (人再囧途之泰囧), by Xu Zheng (徐峥)
- Joyful Reunion (飲食男女— 好遠又好近), by Tsao Jui-Yuan (曹瑞原)
- Barfi!, by Anurag Basu
The opening movie will be The Soul of Bread (愛的麵包魂), by Sean Kao (高炳權) and Lin Chun-Yang (林君陽).
Finally, the festival organizers also presented this year's poster, with the mascot Xi Wang, the Formosa bear.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
2013 poster of the Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic with the mascot Xi Wang, the Formosa bear[/caption]
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
La Jabugueña Iberian cured ham aims at Chinese market
From http://www.elpuntavui.cat/noticia/article/4-economia/18-economia/643309-la-jabuguena-de-salt-entra-al-mercat-xines.html (in Catalan)
La Jabugueña, a company based in Salt (Girona province) and devoted to the production and distribution of Iberian cured pork products, is aiming at the Chinese market and because of that has recently attended the the Hofex trade fair in Hong Kong. The 35-year-old company has a processing plant in Salt for the meat coming from the Iberian pigs raised on their estate in Jabugo (Huelva province). According to Yolanda Escuredo, "it is a great business opportunity for us because it is a country with a high number of consumers of Iberian cured ham and despite having different food habits they are big lovers of this kind of meat". Ham production in East Asia has a much shorter curation process and it is mainly eaten cooked, which gives La Jabugueña's Iberian curated ham a selective advantage. To increase exports is a present priority for La Jabugueña, a company that despite their solid position in Spanish market has seen an important decline of their sales in the home market. However, they are also witnessing an important increase in sales abroad, like Japan, where nearly 50% of exports are sold, followed by Austria, Russia, Denmark and Santo Domingo.
La Jabugueña, a company based in Salt (Girona province) and devoted to the production and distribution of Iberian cured pork products, is aiming at the Chinese market and because of that has recently attended the the Hofex trade fair in Hong Kong. The 35-year-old company has a processing plant in Salt for the meat coming from the Iberian pigs raised on their estate in Jabugo (Huelva province). According to Yolanda Escuredo, "it is a great business opportunity for us because it is a country with a high number of consumers of Iberian cured ham and despite having different food habits they are big lovers of this kind of meat". Ham production in East Asia has a much shorter curation process and it is mainly eaten cooked, which gives La Jabugueña's Iberian curated ham a selective advantage. To increase exports is a present priority for La Jabugueña, a company that despite their solid position in Spanish market has seen an important decline of their sales in the home market. However, they are also witnessing an important increase in sales abroad, like Japan, where nearly 50% of exports are sold, followed by Austria, Russia, Denmark and Santo Domingo.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Food industries from Girona province promote products in China
From http://www.diaridegirona.cat/economia/2013/05/07/sector-agroalimentari-gironi-promociona-productes-xina/616184.html (in Catalan)
After the visit of Chinese importers in April 2013 to knowx Catalan meat industries, nine food companies from Girona province, mostly from the meat sector, have showcased their products in the SIAL and Hofex trade fairs in Shanghai and Hong Kong, respectively.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="104"]
SIAL - The Asian Food Marketplace[/caption]
SIAL is Asia's Leading Food & Beverage Exhibition and it is a key reference to enter the China's food market. This year's exhibition is expected to receive around 35,000 professional visitors and the companies from the Girona province attending this event are Frigorífics Costa Brava (meat products, certified to export to China), Friselva, Grup Batallé, Iberdigest and Miquel Alimentació Grup.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="196"]
Hofex Hong Kong[/caption]
Hofex is a biennial trade fair specialized in food and drinks that is reaching its 15th edition. In the previous edition it hosted 1,800 companies and 33,000 professionals of the sector and it is the main event of this kind in the region. The companies from the Girona province taking part in Hofex 2013 are Casademont (meat products), La Jabugueña (Iberian meat products), Mas Parés (foie and duck products), and Vichy Catalán (drinks). Despite of the reduced size of the market in Hong Kong, it is a very attractive one because of both the high economic level of the residents and its strategic location to re-export the food products to other areas in the region, specially to China.
After the visit of Chinese importers in April 2013 to knowx Catalan meat industries, nine food companies from Girona province, mostly from the meat sector, have showcased their products in the SIAL and Hofex trade fairs in Shanghai and Hong Kong, respectively.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="104"]
SIAL - The Asian Food Marketplace[/caption]SIAL is Asia's Leading Food & Beverage Exhibition and it is a key reference to enter the China's food market. This year's exhibition is expected to receive around 35,000 professional visitors and the companies from the Girona province attending this event are Frigorífics Costa Brava (meat products, certified to export to China), Friselva, Grup Batallé, Iberdigest and Miquel Alimentació Grup.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="196"]
Hofex Hong Kong[/caption]Hofex is a biennial trade fair specialized in food and drinks that is reaching its 15th edition. In the previous edition it hosted 1,800 companies and 33,000 professionals of the sector and it is the main event of this kind in the region. The companies from the Girona province taking part in Hofex 2013 are Casademont (meat products), La Jabugueña (Iberian meat products), Mas Parés (foie and duck products), and Vichy Catalán (drinks). Despite of the reduced size of the market in Hong Kong, it is a very attractive one because of both the high economic level of the residents and its strategic location to re-export the food products to other areas in the region, specially to China.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Presentation of the Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic
According to a press release by the organizers, the presentation of the 10th edition of the Asian Summer Film Festival (Festival Nits de Cinema Oriental) will take place in Vic in May 9th, 2013, and it will include a conference by Mr. Javier Ching-Shan Hou, representative of the Office for the Economic and Cultural Promotion of Taipei in Spain (駐西班牙台北經濟文化辦事處), entitled "Taiwan, a country of opportunities". Both this Office and the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan are involved in the organization of this festival as official sponsors. The activities will also include an official reception by the Mayor of Vic, Josep Maria Vila d’Abadal.
Last year's edition of the Asian Summer Film Festival was won by the Taiwanese movie Starry Starry Night (星空), a 2011 fantasy drama based on an illustrated novel by Taiwanese author Jimmy Liao (廖福彬). The movie was directed by Tom Lin (林書宇) and had Xu Jiao (徐嬌) and Lin Hui-min in the main acting roles.
Last year's edition of the Asian Summer Film Festival was won by the Taiwanese movie Starry Starry Night (星空), a 2011 fantasy drama based on an illustrated novel by Taiwanese author Jimmy Liao (廖福彬). The movie was directed by Tom Lin (林書宇) and had Xu Jiao (徐嬌) and Lin Hui-min in the main acting roles.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Asian Summer Film Festival in Vic reaches 10th edition
From http://cinemaoriental.com/en (in English)
Between July 9th and 14th, 2013, the city of Vic (province of Barcelona) will host the 10th edition of the Asian Summer Film Festival (Festival Nits de Cinema Oriental). This festival will display some of the most acclaimed commercial works in Asia as well as radical new projects. This years' program will include one world premiere and several international releases from other festivals, only shown in their country of origin. As in previous editions, the festival will also host the traditional outdoor dinners, where attendants will be able to sample delightful dishes from Hong Kong, India, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
Between July 9th and 14th, 2013, the city of Vic (province of Barcelona) will host the 10th edition of the Asian Summer Film Festival (Festival Nits de Cinema Oriental). This festival will display some of the most acclaimed commercial works in Asia as well as radical new projects. This years' program will include one world premiere and several international releases from other festivals, only shown in their country of origin. As in previous editions, the festival will also host the traditional outdoor dinners, where attendants will be able to sample delightful dishes from Hong Kong, India, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Sinergies, a talent hunting program for Catalan and Chinese young entrepreneurs
From http://www.tarragona.cat/lajuntament/conselleries/empreses/tarragonaimpulsa/noticies/joves-catalans-i-xinesos-participen-al-programa-sinergies-de-captacio-de-talent-emprenedor-i-internacionalitzacio-empresarial (in Catalan)
Since April 5th, 2013, 30 young entrepreneurs (15 Chinese and 15 Catalan) are taking part in the program Sinergies, a pilot activity jointly organized by the Tarragona city council and the University Rovira i Virgili, with the collaboration of the Tarragona province government (Diputació de Tarragona), Casa Àsia and Europe Direct.
From April to June 2013 these students will share academic and cultural activities aimed at getting the knowledge and the skills to create and manage a company, at knowing the potential of the area and at understanding how the Chinese and European markets work. The program also wants to help develop personal links between these students, so later they can turn into something profitable for Tarragona and its province.
A pdf document containing detailed information about the Sinergies program for 2013 can be found in Casa Àsia website and also read and downloaded here at the following link - http://www.casaasia.es/media/asset_publics/resources/000/031/484/original/Sinergies_Dossier_Resum_Projecte.pdf
Since April 5th, 2013, 30 young entrepreneurs (15 Chinese and 15 Catalan) are taking part in the program Sinergies, a pilot activity jointly organized by the Tarragona city council and the University Rovira i Virgili, with the collaboration of the Tarragona province government (Diputació de Tarragona), Casa Àsia and Europe Direct.
From April to June 2013 these students will share academic and cultural activities aimed at getting the knowledge and the skills to create and manage a company, at knowing the potential of the area and at understanding how the Chinese and European markets work. The program also wants to help develop personal links between these students, so later they can turn into something profitable for Tarragona and its province.
A pdf document containing detailed information about the Sinergies program for 2013 can be found in Casa Àsia website and also read and downloaded here at the following link - http://www.casaasia.es/media/asset_publics/resources/000/031/484/original/Sinergies_Dossier_Resum_Projecte.pdf
University Rovira i Virgili from Tarragona offers website in Chinese
From http://wwwa.urv.cat/noticies/diari_digital/cgi/principal.pl?fitxer=noticies/noticia011768.htm (in Catalan)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="618"]
Chinese version of the University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona website[/caption]
The University Rovira i Virgili (province of Tarragona) has translated their website into Chinese as a way to make it more accessible to the increasing number of Chinese students that every year choose it as learning centre. Since 2005, it has become increasingly frequent for this university to receive students from eight Chinese universities in order to improve their studies on Spanish culture and language. The Chinese version of the website of the University Rovira i Virgili offers information on the subjects and services offered, on the accommodation in the area and also on the experience of previous Chinese students. The Chinese version of this website can be visited at http://www.urv.cat/chinese/.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="618"]
Chinese version of the University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona website[/caption]The University Rovira i Virgili (province of Tarragona) has translated their website into Chinese as a way to make it more accessible to the increasing number of Chinese students that every year choose it as learning centre. Since 2005, it has become increasingly frequent for this university to receive students from eight Chinese universities in order to improve their studies on Spanish culture and language. The Chinese version of the website of the University Rovira i Virgili offers information on the subjects and services offered, on the accommodation in the area and also on the experience of previous Chinese students. The Chinese version of this website can be visited at http://www.urv.cat/chinese/.
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