Chic Group launching the European Enterprises Innovation Town: another step to strengthen the cooperation between China and Europe

Chic Group launching European Enterprises Innovation Town: another step to strengthen the cooperation between China and Europe


On July 13th, Chic Group launched the European Enterprises Innovation Town during the successful event “Nanjing Exclusive Dialogue with European Enterprises” held at the Shanghai Garden Hotel and through the live streaming connection to facilitate the participation of overseas guests. It has been a platform to enrich dialogue and deepen bilateral cooperation with the presence of more than 200 representatives from European and Chinese institutions and companies and many participants online.
Chic Group, an international management & investment company actively operating in Italy and China, works alongside local governments on urban development projects and in this occasion co-organised the event hosted by the Nanjing Investment Promotion Bureau, CPC Nanjing Lishui District Committee, Nanjing Lishui District People’s government, Nanjing Commerce Bureau and Foreign Affairs Office of Nanjing Municipal People’s Government. The initiative was greatly supported by Fondazione Italia Cina, China Italy Chamber of Commerce, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and Swiss Chamber in China.
The event opened with three panels dedicated to the relevant themes linked to the area of the project namely “carbon neutrality and new energy industry”, “high-end intelligence manufacturing industry” and “airport and modern services”, consisting in an open discussion between the major representatives of the local governments and the entrepreneurs of related business sectors.


Following the roundtable discussions, for the plenary session several institutional representatives and professionals were welcomed on stage, among which the Deputy Mayor of Nanjing Lin Tao, who expressed strong hopes for cooperation between Nanjing and European enterprises, mentioning that Nanjing has provided a good policy in promoting an innovative ecosystem and attracting international talents “as an important hub of the one belt and one road intersection, an important central city in eastern China and a mega-city in the Yangtze River Delta, Nanjing is a city of culture, green and ecological, with great science and education resources. In 2020, Nanjing achieved a regional GDP of 1481.7 billion Yuan with an increase rate of 4.6%.”
Recalling the sistership between Nanjing and Florence and considering Jiangsu as an important business partner for Italian companies, the Commercial Consul of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, Alessandra Palumbo talked about the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and China in 2020, and she believes that the year of culture and tourism Italy China in 2022 can be another positive opportunity to enhance the exchanges between the two sides.
During the event, Lishui District government signed several memoranda of understanding with a number of renowned European companies and organizations, providing strong support for the international integration and development of regional key industries and a powerful sign of trust in the European Enterprises Innovation Town project.
The Town, taking up 427.85 hectares, is located in Honglan Street of Lishui District. Being established as a Sino-European intelligent manufacturing and R&D center, the town aims to serve and foster European and Chinese companies in healthcare, pharmaceutical medical and biological industries, as well as electronic components manufacturing, electronic information and high-end intelligent manufacturing.
A peculiarity of this Town will also be its carbon zero and environment-friendly characteristic since it will be among the first carbon neutral areas in China.
“This project is an excellent opportunity for European companies wishing to establish or develop their business in China. Acting as a facilitator of the local Government, Chic Group will use its expertise in urban development and its 21-year experience in bridging Europe and China to assist these enterprises reach their full potential in Lishui” concluded Helen Tu, Executive Director of Chic Investment Group and Board Member of the Italy China Foundation.
