There’s a growing group of Delta business dynamos on the move. And they’re now paying close attention to recent policy changes to the social and economic integration of the Pearl River City. Namely the 2020 Pearl River Delta master-plan, which will see, according to reports: Guangzhou absorb Foshan and Zhaoqing; Shenzhen absorb Huizhou and Dongguan; see Jiangmen and Zhongshan anchored to Zhuhai.
One such Delta watcher is Max J. Zenglein, the regional manager for the German Chamber of Commerce in Guangzhou. At Zhongshan's first-ever Inter-Chamber networking event last night, Mr. Zenglein commented, “We need to understand the small cities because there are not as many foreign companies here. So we are coming together with the Inter-chamber events.”
Pat Kwan, the Guangzhou based Business Development Manager for the British Chamber of Commerce in Guangdong, concurs with Zenglein’s logic. She said, “This is something new for us. There are not so many British companies here, so it makes sense for us to come together with other chambers. BritCham wants to do more Guangdong regional events like this.”
Rosario Di Maggio, senior associate of business advisory services for Dezan Shire & Associates, said, “It is not always easy to meet the foreign community, so this type of event is good for getting too know people.” In fact, Deza Shira & Associates will be holding a special series seminars dedicated to financial control and ownership issues in Mid-May. They’re targeting smaller Delta cities: Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan and Zhuhai.
Another Delta mover and shaker —well mover anyway— Maricel Barotilla, Key Account Manager for AGS Four Winds International Movers, said, “I was at a BritCham event last week in Guangzhou and they mentioned this, so I thought it would be interesting to come. I didn’t know there were so many people here.”
Indeed, 50 attendees from the German, French, British, Swiss and Dutch chambers packed Bellavista restaurant & deli in central Zhongshan. The event also attracted local CEOs and entrepreneurs from Guangzhou to Zhuhai. Casual conversation topics included the Guangzhou-Zhuhai city light rail. Zhongshan locals explain that the trains are being tested in northern Zhongshan at Xiaolan. That’s going to be a critical interchange for Guangzhou-Zhuhai rail-line because it will branch out west from Xiaolan terminal to Jiangmen with a separate line. “I’ve lived in Guangzhou for 11-years and it is important to know what is going on with regional business. So this event is perfect for me,” says Ms. Barotilla.
Like Ms. Barotilla, attendees enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, German beer and international menu prepared by executive chef Minome, a denizen of Tokyo who studied cooking in Italy. And they’re eager for more. “I really hope to see more Inter-Chamber events in Zhongshan and in the other cities too,” said Susie Zhou, the marketing executive of direct sales at AIG Insurance office, Zhongshan. That’s going to happen.
The first Inter-Chamber for the western Delta was held last month in Zhuhai at The Cellar wine lounge
— with Delta Bridges serving as the media partner with the German and French chambers of commerce. “We are actively seeking chamber partners across the Delta to come together. We are happy to be the official media sponsor of these events,” said JJ Verdun, Publisher of Delta Bridges Media. It’s true: more Delta Inter-chamber events are being planned for several cities. That’s good news as yet another chamber opens up in Shenzhen: the German Chamber of Commerce will open on May 7. Given Mr. Zenglein’s Inter-Chamber aplomb, it is fair to wager more Delta Inter-Chamber events are in store for Shenzhen.
