Achievements regarding the objectives of the ASIA INVEST Programme
Contributing to the overall objectives
Within the two project years a contribution to strengthen the EU political and economic presence could be made. This project funded by the government of Austria and the EU and supported by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, was politically recognised as the topic was and is from great interest for the national committee.
Each important event during the project was visited by Chinese governmental institutions and the programme manager of ASIA Invest in China. Many possibilities for intercontinental exchange and mass media were used to communicate the objectives and results of the programme and to foster the good relationship between the stakeholders of the project.
This project under the ASIA Invest programme is raising awareness of the opportunities the EU gives to China. Environmental protection, technical assistance, technology transfer and business matchmaking, the main objectives of the project, are topics where the EU can support China. On the other hand Chinese got interested in cooperation with EU companies as they found a good basis for further business in the good cooperation between the project partners and stakeholders.
The technology transfer related to the sector, from refractory material to complex process simulation software, will strengthen mutual trade and investments between China and the EU. This technology is needed in the country to reinforce the private sector which mainly developed due to the privatisation process of Chinese foundry industry.
Meet the purpose of the programme
The project initiated direct business co-operation between EU and Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises, and supported with technical assistance private sector development with new business opportunities. This was complemented with the reinforcement of the Chinese Foundry Association, networking and dialogue with the main institutions in this sector in China and the EU.
The technology transfer, the trade between EU and Chinese companies with foundry goods initiated by this project will contribute to the growth of business between these important economies. Many European economic operators fear the step to China as they can not overcome the cultural problem existing. The involvement of European and Asian business intermediaries like CFA in China and CAI in Europe helps to minimize this gap and enable first contacts.
Often the need of the Chinese to upgrade their technology forces them to start business with foreign suppliers. This project promoted best practices, developed by mainly EU industries and the related EU initiative, by giving technical assistance and know how with respect to these EU BAT documents. The Cleaner Production project evaluated the opportunities for several companies to implement BAT and developed the necessary steps to sustain this initiative. This technological improvement of the sector results in a remarkable lower environmental impact of the sector and on better working conditions. This contributes to the sustainable industrial development of China.
Instruments used in the project
Matchmaking Activities between European and China, including the business preparation and follow-up summarized in the chapter impacts on the companies
Chinese Private Sector Development, in the form of technical assistance process improvement with CP measures
Institutional Reinforcement by training the Chinese intermediary business organisations for the sector, the CFA, and promotion of networking with European counterparts.
Technical Assistance
The project trained the skills of the targeted Asian enterprises, which have strong potential for partnerships with European companies.
CAI gave technical assistance to enable the companies to develop their CP options, to evaluate their technology demand. This prepared the companies for the international marked.
The workshops and consulting activities upgraded the technical and marketing know-how on resource efficiency and pollution prevention measures.