B2B matchmaking for Chinese and Finnish companies

Helsinki Business Hub has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Beijing Sub-Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT Beijing). The goal of the agreement is to create new business opportunities between Chinese and Finnish companies.

Carol Gong from CCPIT Beijing has high hopes for the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding.

“Finland is China’s largest trading partner in the Nordic area as well as an important provider of high technology for Chinese enterprises. Beijing would like to build a long-term partnership for bilateral trade in science technology and economy with Finland,” she says.

CCPIT is a Chinese, nation-wide organization representing the government in promoting international trade, foreign investments, introduction of advanced technology, and international economic and technological cooperation.

Its Beijing Sub-Council, CCPIT Beijing, has some 700 organization members working in a variety of fields, including construction, logistics, import and export, electronics, exhibitions, legal services, arts and crafts, animation games, software and information service, and entertainment.

“Both CCPIT Beijing and Helsinki Business Hub provide professional services for companies to promote business, trade and investments. Our friendly relationship will benefit businesses in both cities,” says Gong.

CCPIT Beijing has already established long-term cooperative relations with 197 chambers and associations of commerce and trade promotion organizations from 82 countries or regions.

“Through these external relations, we can provide excellent international liaison services for our member companies and government agencies. In a similar way, the Memorandum of Understanding with Helsinki Business Hub will help us boost the collaboration between our members and companies in the Helsinki region.”

Memorandum of Understanding lays ground for concrete work

The negotiations for the Memorandum of Understanding started in October 2017 in Beijing and the representatives of CCPIT Beijing visited Finland and participated in planning the Helsinki Beijing week, during which – in February 2018 – the Memorandum was signed.

“The collaboration and communication with CCPIT Beijing has been very positive. We are now continuing the work by looking closer into the companies in Beijing and Helsinki and by matching them. CCPIT Beijing is in a key position to find Chinese businesses that are interested in working with Finnish companies or in Finland, and we will look for opportunities and matches for them on our side,” says Senior Business Advisor Irma Ylikangas from Helsinki Business Hub.

“Helsinki Business Hub has an important role in providing professional consultancy services and assistance for Chinese companies that wish to establish their business or seek partners in Finland. CCPIT Beijing and Helsinki Business Hub will also maintain a close contact and exchange business information relevant for both Finnish and Chinese companies,” says Carol Gong.

CCPIT Beijing has mapped the interest of its members and found that particularly companies working in the telecom, data processing, construction products, biotechnology, agriculture, medical technology, green industry, and service industry sectors have indicated a strong interest in working with Finnish companies.

As the national center for science and technological innovation, Beijing is pursuing collaboration and development in the fields of smart equipment, energy conservation, new energy and smart cars, artificial intelligence, software and information services, integrated circuits, medical health and technology services.

Since the Chinese and Finnish cultures have certain differences, companies need to learn the specific characteristics of the other country’s business environment, as well as relevant policies and local culture.

“Foreign companies establishing their business in China need to be dynamic and energetic and able to adapt to the rapid development of the Chinese market. It’s always helpful if they can find a reliable Chinese partner,” Gong says.

“The Memorandum of Understanding is a fundamental and essential agreement for building mutual trust and benefits, and it will help CCPIT Beijing and Helsinki Business Hub lay the groundwork for further ties and collaboration. We are really looking forward to organizing matchmaking activities for companies in Beijing and Helsinki,” she adds.

Text: Anu Jussila