
Co-sponsored by the CPAFFC and the French Section of the Swiss-Chinese Association (FSSCA), the China-Switzerland Women Entrepreneurs’ Meeting in Lausanne last November 4, drew about 60 participants.
FSSCA President Gerald Beroud made an opening speech and presided over the meeting. The Swiss-Chinese Association (SCA), with a history of nearly 70 years, has long been engaged in promoting friendship with China and has a good cooperative relationship with the CPAFFC. President Beroud said the aim of the Lausanne meeting was to set up a platform of interaction for Chinese and Swiss women entrepreneurs.
Philippe Monnier, Executive Director of the Economic Development Agency of the Greater Geneva-Berne area (GGBa), described the agency’s services for foreign investment and the advantages foreign-funded enterprises enjoy if they invest in western Switzerland. Andrea Tasinato, a leading official of the Canton of Vaud Bureau of Economic Development, meanwhile, talked about the region’s economic development and the advantages it offered, including a “one-stop” service for foreign-funded enterprises preparing to establish a long-term presence. Lawyer Thomas Hua Xia explained the relevant laws and regulations on establishing enterprises in Switzerland, while Jean-Marc Metrailler, Director of the Marty Innovation Center of the Industrial and Technology Park, gave a briefing on the park’s plan, functions, specialties, and scale of future development.
Long Jiangwen, Vice President of the Chinese Association of Women Entrepreneurs (CAWE) delivered a warm and enthusiastic speech, elaborating on the importance of the exchanges between China and the West by citing the example of China’s initiative to build the Silk Road economic belt, and briefing about the CAWE’s main task of providing training, consultation and business opportunities for Chinese women entrepreneurs, and helping them to establish ties with relevant Chinese government agencies and foreign cooperators.
The Chinese women entrepreneurs present then briefed in turn about their respective enterprises, expressing their hope to cooperate with Swiss counterparts. The two sides exchanged name cards and materials. Some of them even entered into negotiations on cooperation.