Third edition of China at Barcelona Summit

From http://www.europapress.es/catalunya/noticia-centenar-empresas-chinas-mediterraneo-estudian-abrir-sede-barcelona-20131106181850.html (in Spanish)

Around one hundred Chinese companies already working in the Mediterranean area are considering to establish their headquarters in Barcelona, after their participation in the third edition of the China at Barcelona Summit, aimed at promoting Chinese investments in this city.

Organized by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Mazars, and Invest in Catalonia, China at Barcelona Summit has also had the institutional support of the Barcelona City Council, Casa Àsia and IEMed, and has gathered the investment agencies of Shanghai and Beijing, as well as ShineWing, a certified public accounting firm with 3,000 words. Another important participant was the China Africa Business Council, a Beijing-based institution that represents around 550 Chinese companies working in Africa and whose General Secretary, Bai Xiaofeng, has accepted to explain the advantages of Barcelona as main investment hub in Southern Europe.

One of the sessions that has raised more interest has been the one dealing with the new Spanish regulations for entrepreneurs, that will ease the concession of visas and residence permits to foreign investors that would by properties worth at least 500,000 euro.  The participants also have known several investment projects in northern Africa, either promoted or managed by Barcelona-based institutions, such as the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.

During the opening ceremony, the Catalan Minister of Business and Employment, Felip Puig, and the President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Miquel Valls, highlighted the dedicated efforts of Barcelona and Catalonia to become a hub for Chinese companies with interests in Northern Africa and the Mediterranean. Felip Puig also mentioned the privileged and strategic location of Catalonia.

The meeting also seen the participation of the General Secretary of Casa Àsia, Montserrat Riba, the partner of Mazars in China, Chen Bing, and the President of IEMed, Senen Florensa.