The Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines invites you to ”Italy By Design” this coming May 19th 2022 at 2:00 PM (Hong Kong Time). This exclusive event is organised in partnership with the United Architects in the Philippines, the Infrastructure Construction Focus Group (ICFG), and the Philippine Institute of Interior Design and Design Center of the Philippines.

Italy By Design immerses you in the beauty and finesse of modern architecture, interior and furniture design as well as industrial design through a series of presentations and discussions by Italian and Filipino design professionals and industry leaders. It aims to connect the two worlds and create a permanent collaborative setting.

For more information about the program, click HERE.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is pleased to present the yearly event of “The Authentic Italian Table”, a culinary initiative that began with the True Italian Taste project as part of The Extraordinary Italian Taste campaign.

The campaign is promoted and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

True Italian Taste is a global initiative whose objective is to raise awareness of the benefits derived from the use of authentic Italian agri-food products, to promote the ‘Made in Italy’ while also fighting the so-called ‘Italian Sounding’ phenomenon. This refers to the phenomenon of using words, images and geographical references that are evocative of Italy on products that have no connection to Italy.

True Italian Taste intends to spread a wider knowledge of the characteristics of typicalities, origins and other nutritional aspects which are PDO and PGI certified. 

On May 18, the Italian Chamber will be hosting a gastronomy lunch experience of Italian sustainable cuisine curated by renowned Neapolitan Chef Antimo Maria Merone at Estro.

Through this exclusive event, guests will be taken on a gastronomic journey, uncovering Chef Antimo’s Neapolitan roots while showcasing his innate creativity and progressive style while also highlighting the importance of using authentic Italian products.

Learn more about the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE project at this link.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Fabian Blake, is a Belgian National and currently holding the position of Managing Director of AMS Assembly Foshan, a fully Dutch-owned company registered in the Pearl River Delta and offering Manufacturing services in South China since 2003.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Chris Brown – Founder & Director of EnviroEvents (Rethink) Limited

Booming and struggling at the same time – what’s going on in the transportation, logistics and travel sector in Hong Kong and Asia during 2022? Freight costs are at an all-time high and new disruptions appear as soon as others are being resolved. 

Join the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for an exclusive industry insight together with Aldo Soprani, CEO at APC Logistics, Stan Kwong, Regional Head at Finnair, Christian Ulloa, Director at ICA Global Sourcing in Shanghai and Tero Ahonen, Chief Strategy Officer at JAS Worldwide (previously Greencarrier).

In a panel discussion and Q&A hosted by Gabriella Augustsson, General Manager at SwedCham, we will delve into current topics and situations as well as looking ahead.

The conversation will include (but not be limited to): 

• The travel and transportation ecosystem from a Hong Kong/Asia perspective today
• A reshaped industry – consequences of the pandemic
• Disruptions in the transportation and travel sector

The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mr Aldo Soprani, Group CEO of APC Asia Pacific Cargo (HK) Ltd.

Aldo Soprani is currently leading APC Asia Pacific Cargo, a small group based in HK with branches in Greater China, South-East Asia and in Europe, predominantly in the Nordics. APC is owned by Nippon Express, which allows APC to keep its Nordic focus and its personal touch. Remaining small but part of a bigger group has been the key to success in the past years and allows APC to thrive.

Mr Christian Ulloa, Director of ICA Global Sourcing Ltd.

Christian Ulloa is a Global Senior FMCG executive with 20+ years’ experience of broad and cross functional experience in procurement and business development. Christian currently works as Director of ICA Global Sourcing in Shanghai. ICA Global Sourcing manages sourcing, order follow up, quality assurance and CSR functions for various brands in Sweden, Finland, the Baltics and the Netherlands.

Mr Stan Kwong, Regional Head Hong Kong, Southern China, Taiwan, Philippines, Macau at Finnair

Stan Kwong has been the Regional Head of Finnair since 2016, after having been with Finnair since 2008. With more than 16 years of experience in the sales and marketing industry, Stan has directed the company’s growth and development to a new era in the region.

Mr Tero Ahonen, Chief Strategy Officer at JAS Forwarding (HK) Ltd.

Tero Ahonen is the Chief Strategy Officer of JAS Worldwide in Hong Kong. After having spent 14 years at Greencarrier, Tero joined JAS Worldwide when Greencarrier was acquired in November 2021. Throughout his career Tero have been active within the international logistics and transportation sector, with over eight years accumulated experience from Hong Kong and Shanghai.

SPEAKERS

• Mr Axel Mattern, CEO, Port of Hamburg
• Mr Philip Oetker, Chief Commercial Officer, Hamburg Süd

The spectre of universal testing and mass lockdowns is heavily impacting property markets in Hong Kong and China. The value of transactions plummeted in recent weeks and projections for residential, commercial and industrial real estate declined. This comes on top of the uncertainty caused by the Evergrande saga in mainland China.

What to make of the current market and what to expect for the future? In this fireside chat, we dive deeper into the trends and key drivers on the short and longer-term, to help shape your forecasts and decisions on the property markets on both sides of Victoria Harbour.

Mr Raymond Liu, Director and Real Estate Expect Asia Pacific at HSBC, and Mr Herald van der Linde, Chief Asia Equity Strategist at HSBC will share their insights with you and members of the Finance Committee at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

Sustainability and circularity are topics of the hour. Not a day goes by without companies and countries committing to reduce emissions, save energy or make their products more sustainable to help save our planet. But how? As one of the leading materials manufacturers, Covestro has committed to taking on the global triple crisis, embedding circular economic principles into the fabric of its operations, and becoming a trailblazer for the entire plastics industry.

Covestro believes a circular economy is a key to tackling climate change, resource depletion and environmental destruction, and it must become a guiding principle for the economy and society. Covestro aims for operational climate neutrality by 2035 as part of its long-term vision to become fully circular.

In this webinar, Lisa Ketelsen, Head of Sales & Market Development Asia Pacific of Business Entity Thermoplastic Polyurethanes, will give context on the company’s newly announced climate target and explain how, in real business cases, Covestro is partnering with its value chain to fully embrace the circular economy and meet rising customer demand for climate-neutral, circular products and solutions. An interactive Question and Answer session will be offered to discuss how we, as industry leaders in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific, can join forces to shape a climate-neutral future together.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Ms Lisa Ketelsen, Head of Sales & Market Development Asia Pacific, Thermoplastic Polyurethanes at Covestro (Hong Kong) Ltd.

Lisa is the Head of Sales & Market Development of the Business Entity Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU) in Asia Pacific since mid-2021. TPU is a business that generated global sales of approximately 280 million Euro in 2020 with products that find their way into applications like footwear, smartphone cases and smart IT devices. Lisa has more than 15 years of experience in the chemical industry. She started her career at Covestro’s former parent company Bayer in Germany in 2005 and quickly assumed management positions across various functions including market and business development, marketing, finance and procurement. Before taking up her current role, she was the global Head of Thermoplastic Composites, an innovative material and start-up-like driven business within Covestro headquartered in Shanghai. Lisa was born in Brazil. She graduated in Business Administration from the University of Applied Sciences in Essen, Germany, and gained her MBA from the University of Bradford in the UK. She is married and has one child.

• AR Trends in 2022 and Beyond, Matias Koski, GM Global Sales at Immersal
• Use Cases of Augmented Reality: Smoother Field Service and Better Customer Engagement, Chung Ng, SVP (Technology, Strategy, & Development), PCCW-Hong Kong Telecom
• How Rakuten Mobile Took Stadium Spectator Experience to the Next Level with AR, Kelvin Cheng, R&D Manager, Rakuten Mobile
• Q&A

Mr Matias Koski, General Manager, Global Sales Immersal

Matias Koski is heading global sales at Immersal, part of Hexagon, and accelerating AR and Metaverse transformation across the world. The transformation is enabled by using Immersal’s high technology, combined with other cutting edge technologies like 5G mobile networks, cloud computing and private networks.

Matias has studied Materials Science and Industrial Engineering at the Aalto University, Finland. Before joining Immersal, he worked for Nokia and Microsoft for more than 10 years.

Mr Chung Ng, Senior Vice President, Technology, Strategy & Development, PCCW – Hong Kong Telecom

Dr. Chung is a SVP at Group CTO Office of the HKT/PCCW Group, where he’s responsible for leading the group’s product and technology roadmap and strategic development. He also represents the group as board members of Lynx Analytics and Bindo Labs.

Before HKT/PCCW, Chung contributed to the Big Data/AI strategy at Telstra as well as its international growth strategy. Prior to Telstra, Chung was an Associate Partner of Cluster Technology Limited which serves the Greater China market with professional services and solutions in high-performance computing, machine learning, big data, and public cloud.

In 2008, Chung joined McKinsey & Company in the Hong Kong office. He received his DPhil in Information Engineering from the University of Oxford and held the Croucher Foundation Scholarship to work toward his research degree in wireless ad-hoc networks. Chung also received BEng and MPhil in Information Engineering from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Mr Kelvin Cheng, R&D Group Manager, Rakuten Mobile, Inc.

At Rakuten Mobile, Dr. Cheng is heading the R&D Group, strategizing the use of XR, metaverse and other cutting edge technologies to imagine future immersive experiences together with the use of 5G mobile network, creating new business values, and enhancing user journeys for consumers. He graduated with a PhD in computer science from The University of Sydney in 2009. He is also a Visiting Researcher at Tsukuba University and Waseda University.

Terms and Conditions:

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 5 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• Cancellations must be provided in writing to: icc@icc.org.hk at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), the Italian National Promotional Institution, will host a free webinar on 30 March to introduce a new online business matching platform for Italian and Hong Kong businesses to connect.

The free platform helps businesses find new suppliers, customers and potential business partners in a wide range of sectors, goods and services. At this webinar, members will learn how this free platform operates, how they can maximize its potential, what services the CDP can provide, and how members can explore business collaboration with Italian companies.

Top three webinar goals:

1. To understand how your business can use and benefit from this new free platform

2. To gain insights into the possibility of potential products/services buyers/ suppliers for your business with Italian firms

3. To gain insights into Italian markets

Italy has long been a gateway for trade and investment between Europe and Asia. Today, it is the world’s eighth-largest economy and Hong Kong’s fourth-largest trade partner in the EU. As for investment, Hong Kong was the third-largest destination for Italian investors in 2019.

If you are interested in starting or expanding your business with Italian companies, sign up for this free webinar today.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Mr Clemente Contestabile, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong

Clemente Contestabile is the Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong since 15 August 2018.

Born in Campobasso on 8 June 1976, he completed a Master’s degree in Political Science International Relations at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” in 2000. He joined the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in December 2001 and worked in the Department for Asia and Oceania and in the Secretariat-General of the MFA. Between 2006 and 2010 he was posted to the Embassy of Italy in Beijing, first as Head of the Consular Chancery and then as Deputy Head of the Commercial Office. In New York from 2010 to 2014, he served with the Permanent Mission of Italy at the United Nations, dealing with development, environment and financial affairs and taking part in negotiations of the U.N. General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and their subsidiary bodies. He was also chief of staff to the Permanent Representative.

From 2014 he worked in the Department for Human Resources, Budget and Innovation of the MFA in Rome, as Head of the Department’s Secretariat. He’s married with two children.

Ms Gioia Morena Gatti, Trade Commissioner of Italy in Hong Kong

A native of Naples, Italy, Gioia Morena Gatti graduated with a Degree in Economics- International Trade and Masters in Public Economy and Administrative Law. After collecting internship experiences in France and UK, her first job in Rome at American Express was focused on the acquisition campaign of new customers through the collaboration of the banking institutions. Her career at ITA/Italian Trade Commission began in 2001 in Bologna, where she served for two years promoting the Food and Wine products from Emilia Romagna Region and working in international trade shows and promotional activities in major equipment-manufacturing sectors. In the following years she worked in the Headquarter in Rome, in the Italian Trade Commission’s President staff and then on a special project for financing feasibility studies in foreign countries, promoted from the Ministry for the Foreign trade. From 2006 to 2015 she was in charge of Food and Beverage projects all over the world, mostly trade shows, workshops, incoming trips to Italy and supporting Italian companies in exporting their product and meeting international buyers/importers. From 2013 to 2015 she was also appointed as Subject Expert in Public Accountancy at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University Roma 3 in Rome, participating to teaching activity of the chair. In 2015 she was appointed Head of the Food and Beverage Sector of ITA/Italian Trade Commission in New York, in charge of the whole US market, where she served until October 2020. Since November 2020 she has been the Director for ITA/Italian Trade Commission in Hong Kong.

Mr Laurent Franciosi, Head of International Business Support at Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP)

Laurent Franciosi is a civil engineer with 18 years of international experience in the commercial and institutional fields.

Before the recent employment in Cassa Depositi e Prestiti as Head of the International Business Affairs, he was Chief Commercial in ANAS International (the subsidiary firm of the Italian Road State Corporate) where he achieved important goals in terms of setup of motorway concessions and large consultancy contracts.

Previously he worked 10 years in Italferr (the engineering company of the Italian State Railway Corporate) as Area Manager for North Africa and Balkans, where he was in charge of commercial and operational management of various projects financed by European Union and Multilateral Banks.

He acquired an important experience in business development in extra EU countries (focused on roads & railway projects) based on economic, financial and legal tools, often implemented in partnership with international financial institutions and counting on the support of diplomatic bodies.

Mr Riccardo Honorati Bianchi, Business Matching Platform Coordinator, Cassa Depositi e Prrestiti (CDP)

Born in Rome (Italy), he graduated in Law and became Lawyer on 1997. He attended Post-graduate course in Community Law at the Board of the Bar Association of Rome. He has been Head of EU Project and Technical Assistance Programmes at Europrogetti & Finanza S.p.A. (leading Italian company dealing with EU and National Programmes to support central and local authorities and economic development in Italy) from 1996 to 2003. He served as Senior Expert in the EU Structural Funds Managing Authority at the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (Department for Cohesion Policy) from 2003 to 2006 and was appointed as Italian Resident Counsellor within the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Bulgaria from 2006 to 2009 dealing with European Structural Funds during the Bulgarian EU accession.

Since 2009 he works at Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) – the National Promotional Institution, acting also as the Italian Development Finance Institution – dealing with International and European Affairs. From July 2013 to July 2017, he was the Head of CDP Office in Brussels and he served as Permanent Representative of CDP to the European Union Institutions. From 2017 he works as Senior Advisor at the CDP International Affairs Department and has been recently appointed as CDP Business Matching Platform Coordinator.

Terms and Conditions:

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 5 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• Cancellations must be provided in writing to: icc@icc.org.hk at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

2022 Annual General Meeting of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao

The Honourable Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR delivered the 2022-2023 Budget Speech on February 23. The Budget outlined a series of measures to support businesses and residents that have been impacted by the pandemic and foster the economic recovery post-epidemic. Some of these measures include tax concessions and e-consumption vouchers.

In light of this, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao, in partnership with the Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and French Chamber in Hong Kong is delighted to invite you to this joint-chamber webinar “Overview of the 2022-2023 Budget – Tax Concession Measures”. 

In collaboration with Fidinam Hong Kong, the webinar will highlight the e-consumption vouchers and tax concession measures for individuals and businesses, including:

• Individual Tax Concession
  • Reduction of salaries Tax / Tax under personal assessment
  • Tax deduction for domestic rental expenses
• Business Tax Concession
  • Reduction of profit tax changes
  • Business registration fees for 2022-2023

Don’t miss out on this webinar to learn more about the latest Budget and how to benefit from it.

Ms Sara Silenzi, Head of Desk, Fidinam Hong Kong

Ms Sara Silenzi is experienced in International Corporate and Tax law. She holds a law degree from the University of Parma (Italy) and a second Level Master’s in Business and Company Law from LUISS University Guido Carli (Rome). She passed the Italian Bar Exam in 2015.

Ms Yan Hong has over 20 years of professional experience in Hong Kong, including cross-border tax planning advisory, due diligence and dealing with the Inland Revenue Department on tax investigation cases, for both corporate and personal taxation.  She is a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. 

Ms Anne De Roulhac has 10 years of experience in corporate structuring, commercial agreements and taxation, in France, mainland China and Hong Kong. She graduated in 2007 in France (Paris – Sorbonne University) in international taxation and business law and was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2011 as a French qualified lawyer.

Terms and Conditions:

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 5 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• Cancellations must be provided in writing to: icc@icc.org.hk at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

Mario Cucinella is a multi-awarded Italian architect and designer and a leading figure in sustainable practices. Innovative technology, together with environmental sustainability, ethical behaviour and positive social impact, are at the heart of his work and research. The influence of his architectural design, that combines environmental and energy efficiency strategies, has been recognized worldwide.

In this exclusive conversation, Mario Cucinella will share his views about sustainability, too often reduced to function and features. Sustainability should pursue something bigger. The question is: how can we, through architecture and design, create a more beautiful world? What are the implications for the Hong Kong high-density urban landscape?

The Honourable Paul MP Chan, GBM, GBS, MH, JP, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, will deliver his 2022-2023 Budget Speech to the Legislative Council on 23 February 2022.

Every year, the Hong Kong business community hosts a luncheon for hundreds of executives to hear the Financial Secretary elaborate on the details of his latest Budget. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 situation, this is not possible again this year. However, we are deeply honoured that the Financial Secretary has accepted our invitation to speak to the Hong Kong business community online on 23 March. Attendees will be able to hear Mr Chan discuss the Government’s plans to steer its fiscal policy and enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness. Not least, he will also discuss measures to help Hong Kong businesses cope with the extreme difficulties they are experiencing as the economy struggles with this pandemic.

This free webinar is exclusively for members.

Terms and Conditions:

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 5 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

Mr Edward Yau Tang-wah, GBS, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government

Terms and Conditions:

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 5 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• Cancellations must be provided in writing to: icc@icc.org.hk at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

In view of the COVID-19 fifth wave and ongoing challenges in Hong Kong, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao would like to invite our members to join the Italian Virtual Town Hall with the participation of the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong.

As the current measures provoke anxiety in the business community, this open discussion aims to provide some policy updates, the business environment in Hong Kong and China, and offer insights on the recent Budget Address to our members. 

Mr Clemente Contestabile, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Mr Ivano Poma, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao will give an introduction on Hong Kong’s current situation and offer their valuable insight.

Prior to joining the event, participants are welcome to share their questions or thoughts in the short survey in advance.

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 5 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• Cancellations must be provided in writing to: icc@icc.org.hk at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

As a specialised branch of Fintech, Regulatory Technology (RegTech) is gaining more and more interest for its ability to address the management of compliance procedures through innovative solutions. One of the key areas of RegTech application is the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) process, where financial institutions are required to identify and verify the identity of individual clients or the corporate structure of business clients to protect the overall financial industry from money laundering activities. Together, RegTech innovation and new KYC & KYB requirements are reshaping the provision of traditional financial services.

In light of this, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao, in collaboration with CRIF and Know Your Customer, is pleased to invite you to Webinar: The Regulatory Drive for RegTech Innovation and Digital KYC in Hong Kong. CRIF, a leading banking credit information provider formed a strategic partnership with Know Your Customer, an award-winning RegTech company in August 2021. 

The webinar will highlight the following topics:

• The traditional challenges related to KYC/KYB compliance in Hong Kong
• Examples of customer demands for digital and seamless onboarding experiences accelerated during the pandemic
• Overview of the current push by the HKMA for RegTech adoption in HK
• An exploration of how Know Your Customer’s digital solutions address all the issues and current demands
• A detailed breakdown of the 5 pillars of KYC/KYB compliance that RegTech can help automate and streamline:
  • Document collection (from the HK registry, but also across multiple jurisdictions)
  • Data Extraction & Verification
  • Workflow & Case Management
  • On-going Monitoring
  • Reporting

The webinar will also cover a short demo of the Know Your Customer solution, unravelling a multi-jurisdiction case.

Don’t miss out! Attend this webinar to apprehend valuable insights on RegTech Innovation and Digital KYC in Hong Kong.

Evidence-Based Management is a framework for measuring value and enabling improvement and agility. Agility can be viewed as the organisation’s capability to deliver value to its customers continuously. Leaders such as CTOs, Product Managers, and Technical Managers are key to the success of their product and the teams that they serve, and need to have the right tools and practices more than ever to help measure and improve their organisation continuously. In this webinar, we will look at building a responsive, adaptable organisation with Evidence-Based Management as it applies to change management. You will learn to define your problems, identify and measure the actions responsible for those problems, and then set goals for regular inspection and correction. We will also share examples of how this EBM approach to problem-solving is more effective than overly relying on your “gut feeling”, enlightening the Hippos in the room and breaking the old-school way of problem-solving. There is a better way, and it’s evidence-based.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mr Richard Brillantes, Consultant at PALO IT 

Richard is a consultant working as a Scrum Master and Agile Coach for PALO IT. His passion for end-to-end Agile software delivery has helped teams and organizations improve their Agile practices to deliver better value to customers sooner. He is also an avid photographer and likes to travel.

Ms Sophie Pagé, Agile Coach and Operations Enabler at PALO IT

Sophie coaches groups and individuals from a diversity of backgrounds in understanding and implementing new workplace cultures and practices. She has broad experience heading up global projects in the US, Europe and Asia, and facilitating workshops and training sessions for those seeking organisational change. Sophie currently acts as an Agile Coach and Operations Enabler at tech consultancy PALO IT.

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 5 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• Cancellations must be provided in writing to: icc@icc.org.hk at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is honoured to attend a closed-door virtual roundtable session with InvestHK.

Mr Stephen Philips, Director General at InvestHK and Mr KC Lam, Consulate and Chamber Engagement at InvestHK will host an online roundtable to hear the thoughts of senior decision-makers from Italian companies in Hong Kong to feed into policy formulation.

*Participation is by invitation only.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, in collaboration with the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce​, InvestHK​ and Shanghai Council for the Promotion of International Trade, is pleased to invite you to the webinar “Hong Kong: Where Business Opportunities Connect”.

During the 6th Belt &Road Summit held on September 1st 2021, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Mainland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on enhancing exchanges and cooperation in promoting Multilateral Co-operation along with the Belt and Road initiatives and high-quality development of overseas Economic & Trade Co-operation Zones. The MOU was signed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Ministry of Commerce. According to the MOU, both sides will leverage respective strengths to promote the zones’ high-quality development, encourage enterprises of both places to invest and set up businesses at the zones, develop the zones jointly and explore international markets, following the principle of “government providing guidance, enterprises taking the lead, and market-oriented operation”. Furthermore, the pact states that the two sides will encourage enterprises, business associations, trade and industry organisations and intermediaries of both places to jointly organise business missions to Belt & Road-related countries and seminars, and to establish exchange platforms and more. Both sides will also support exchanges and collaboration amongst the zones and Hong Kong to the SMEs.

Hong Kong is an important gateway under the B&R initiative and plays its unique role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) region. Furthermore, it is the ideal place for investors to explore a wide range of diversity for their business development via Hong Kong and further expansion in the international market. It’s encouraged to leverage Hong Kong as the Springboard for “Stepping out” to capture the business opportunities under Belt & Road initiative and explore the new market in the GBA.

The event targets to introduce HK’s business environment and how best to leverage HK’s unique business advantages such as low tax regime, leading financial services by providing diversified financing channels, international talents, professional services in different sectors, government support measures with funding scheme etc. to formulate business plans and foster ties with the clients from the global.

The webinar will be covering how to leverage Hong Kong as a springboard to capture business opportunities, topics include:

• Hong Kong’s business environment and unique advantages
• Hong Kong’s taxation system and preferential benefits
• cross-border financial services and all-rounded support to the enterprises in the Mainland and Hong Kong

Don’t miss this insightful webinar!

Terms and Conditions:

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 5 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao, in partnership with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, are pleased to invite you to the webinar “New China Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Requirements”.

The rapid development of social informatization and the arrival of the digital era have made personal information the most important type of data asset in cyberspace. The Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China (PIPL) has taken effect on November 1, 2021, and this law has attracted wide attention for being one of the most important laws of China while the country is entering the digital era. The PIPL, together with the Cybersecurity Law and the Data Security Law, form the foundation of the data protection and cybersecurity legal regime in China.

The major compliance issues that enterprises have to face include:

• how to collect and process personal data in compliance with the laws and regulations;
• how to achieve legitimate and effective cross-border data transfer and protection; and
• how to respond and take effective measures.

In collaboration with Ms Chiang Ling Li, Partner at PwC Limited, the webinar will discuss key compliance requirements and significant business implications and share our practical insights. Don’t miss out on this webinar to apprehend valuable insights!

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ms Chiang Ling Li, Partner at PwC Limited

Chiang Ling Li’s practice has focused on China IP and pharmaceutical law since 1994. She has been at the forefront of the law, leading successful litigation involving patents, trade secrets, copyright, unfair competition, 3-D marks and well-known marks, as well as successfully pursuing criminal enforcement of IP infringement in China.

Chiang works closely with industry organizations lobbying for legal reforms, including those concerning patent linkage and data exclusivity, and has been appointed as an arbitrator by CIETAC, HKIAC, ADNDRC, and the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.

Chiang is the author of China Executive Report: Intellectual Property, the China IP chapters of LexisNexis’s Intellectual Property Rights, the “Anticounterfeiting and Enforcement” chapter in China’s participation in the WTO, and the China chapters in PLC Cross-border Life Sciences (2007-2012 editions), Trade Secrets Throughout the World Treatise, Patents Throughout the World, and Designs and Utility Models Throughout the World. She is also the author of many articles on China IP and pharmaceutical law and practice.

Chiang was among the “A-List” of the top 100 lawyers for China (China Business Law Journal). She is also a PLC recommended lawyer in all three categories of life sciences: intellectual property, corporate and commercial (China), and corporate and commercial. Chiang also has been recognized by The International Who’s Who of Life Sciences Lawyers, World Trademark Review (WTR 1000), Chambers Asia-Pacific and Chambers Global, The International Who’s Who of Life Sciences Lawyers, The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, IAM 1000 — The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, WTR 1000 — The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, and IAM Licensing 250: The World’s Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Practitioners.

• The webinar link will be sent to the registration email by 12:30 PM the day before the webinar.
• Reservations in advance are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
• Cancellations must be provided in writing to: icc@icc.org.hk at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
• This event is closed to the media.
• By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, recorded, and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
• The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon Signal (or above) or the Black Rain Storm Signal is hoisted.
• For further information, please email icc@icc.org.hk

On 20th December the OECD published details of their global minimum tax proposals.  These will reshape the global tax landscape and could have a wide range of implications for large multinational enterprise groups. In less than 12 months, significant changes are expected to be introduced to Hong Kong’s tax system as a result of the OECD’s BEPS 2.0 initiatives and the inclusion of Hong Kong SAR in the EU’s tax ‘grey-list’.  This will result in significant tax increases for some groups.  Others may need to consider whether their current business arrangements are still the most appropriate, while all will face the challenge of understanding the complex new rules and ensuring they have the necessary systems in place to meet their compliance obligations. In this webinar, we will discuss how the OECD’s BEPS 2.0 Pillar 2 rules may affect businesses in Hong Kong and the key areas for consideration.  Key topics that will be discussed include:

• The potential impact for groups with tax losses and timing differences;
• The potential impact on accounting disclosures;
• Key considerations for certain industries such as shipping and real-estate;
• What actions affected businesses in Hong Kong can take to prepare themselves for the upcoming changes including managing data collection; and
• The potential responses from the Hong Kong SAR Government as a result of the latest BEPS 2.0 developments and the inclusion of Hong Kong SAR in the EU’s “tax grey-list.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mr Ivor Morris, Partner at KPMG

Ivor Morris joined KPMG’s Hong Kong office in 2009 and became a tax partner in 2017. Ivor has extensive experience in advising international clients in Hong Kong on their corporate tax matters. He works with many multinational groups and investment funds on cross-border related matters. Ivor received his Master degree in Arts from the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and serves on a number of industry and charity bodies.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao, in partnership with the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, supported by the Retail & Luxury Committee and Quality Council, are pleased to invite you to the webinar “Emerging from the Pandemic – The Future of China’s Luxury Consumer”.

In collaboration with Ms Veronica Wang and Mr Pascal Martin, partners at OC&C Strategy Consultants, the webinar will cover their most recent insights on Chinese luxury consumer trends, emerging from two years of the Covid-19 crisis. 

The agenda for the webinar will be:

• Latest China market evolution and short to mid-term outlook
• Major underlying fashion and luxury consumer trends among Chinese consumers, covering (among other topics):
  • Demographic shifts – Gen Z in the driver’s seat
  • Digital and omnichannel – A constantly evolving landscape and brands’ never-ending quest for consumer engagement
  • The Lower-tier city opportunity – What has changed 
  • Converging sports and luxury – Lasting fad or long-term groundwave?
  • Nationalism and the Do’s and Don’ts of “Chinese for Chinese” design
  • Sustainability – How much do they care? Are they ready to pay for it?
• What these trends mean for fashion and luxury brands, and how best-in-class brands tackle these trends

Veronica and Pascal will draw their remarks from their experiences leading multiple projects in the luxury sector and from the findings of an extensive research survey recently conducted in China. They presented these survey findings and market insights to Altagamma members in Italy at the end of 2021 and received very positive feedback.

Don’t miss out on this webinar to apprehend valuable insights on the Chinese luxury consumer trends! We look forward to a lively, provocative and interaction session with members from the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce jointly.

*Please note participation is free of charge; the webinar is for ICC and CICC members ONLY.

OC&C Strategy Consultants is a global consulting firm focusing on strategy development, with a focus on consumer goods, retails, media & technology and B2B services.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ms Veronica Wang, Partner at OC&C Greater China

Veronica has worked in strategy consulting for more than 12 years, specializing in consumer goods and retail sections, with a particular focus on luxury, fashion and beauty. Based in Greater China throughout her career, Veronica has developed deep knowledge and insights about the China market and Chinese consumers, advising a broad range of clients on their China/Asia market entry and growth strategies, including value proposition, assortment, pricing, distribution and marketing, etc.

Veronica also regularly leads market and consumer studies in China, publishing a series of reports including recent ones on Gen-Z Consumers, Post-Covid Market Trends, Luxury E-commerce, 2nd hand Luxury Market, etc. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the US and a Bachelor’s degree in International Finance from Fudan University in China.

Pascal started his consulting career with McKinsey in Los Angeles and Paris (1987-1993), then Booz Allen in Japan (1997-2003) and OC&C in Hong Kong since 2015, totalling 17 years in the consulting sector. He also held several senior management positions between consulting roles: CEO of Adidas Japan, Regional Director of M&S APAC, VP Strategy at Burberry APAC, CCO at Avon Japan (an interim role for a PE portfolio company) and CEO at Nissan Motors.

Based in Greater China over the past 12 years, after 13 years in Japan, Pascal is an Asia expert. He has been advising a broad range of clients – global groups, industry disruptors and PE investors – on strategy, operational improvement and transformation management in Luxury, Fashion and Sports Apparel, Footwear, Cosmetics, Wine & Spirits and Automotive industries. 

Pascal’s consulting experience includes all aspects of market entry and growth strategies, including product, pricing, channel & route-to-market and digital & omnichannel, always rooted in a thorough understanding of consumer behaviour and trends. He holds an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, as well as a Master’s degree in Economics from Sorbonne University and a civil engineering degree from Paris Ecole Speciale des Travaux Public.

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

Italian design has traveled throughout the twentieth century, leaving an indelible mark on how the shape of everyday objects is perceived in contemporary industrial society.

This “Italian way” has succeeded, through a complex and hesitant process of industrial innovation and new technologies, to develop a culture of independent and multi-faceted design, combining the rich tradition of craftsmanship in the country with an aspiration often fiercely opposed to modernity.

Boffi | de Padova, in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce, presents a panel discussion with leading Italian architects and designers of Hong Kong, engaging them in a roundtable talk about the new trends in Italian design, as well as the design industry in Hong Kong.

The panel discussion will be followed by drinks and light refreshments.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Ms Debora Marzocchi, Founder and Director at M2A DESIGN

Debora Marzocchi is an Interior designer & Project manager Consultant, Founder and Director of the exclusive Italian Boutique interior design Studio M2A DESIGN, in Hong Kong.

She obtained her Bachelor and M.Sc. in Interior Architecture at Politecnico of Milan in Italy, and specialized in the high-end retail field designing boutiques for some of the most prestigious fashion luxury brands like Max Mara and Canali.

As a great ambassador of Italian design, she moved to Hong Kong in 2008 where she founded her own Interior Design studio, proudly rooted in her Italian values, and with a portfolio of projects in the Retail and F&B fields all around Asia.

With strong creative skills, she is very positive and energetic, always ready to learn something new, and doing everything with passion and enthusiasm.

Ms Laura Cavanna, Professor of Architecture & Interior Design at HSUHK – EDC

Laura Cavanna is an Italian architect with a strong focus in interior design, currently working in education. Based in Hong Kong and having experience working for various types of agencies and institutes in different countries, she learned to appreciate and adapt to different aesthetics, preferences and cultures. With each role, Laura had the unique opportunity to work with other designers and have built and led teams where she drove innovation and creative thinking.

Ms Raffaella Bernasconi, Founder & Director at Bernasconi Design Ltd

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is glad to invite you to a unique event, “Gastronomy Experience with 3 stars Michelin Chef Mauro Uliassi”, for a special afternoon of tastings.

Join this outstanding culinary experience on Wednesday, 1 December, from 3:30 PM until 5:30 PM at Conrad Hong Kong.

Chef Mauro Uliassi will be joining our guests via live stream to give insights on the future of Italian gastronomy in the post-COVID era, introduce his restaurant and his personal view on Italian cuisine. Last but not least, Chef Uliassi will talk about his new book “Mauro Uliassi meets Giovanni Gaggia: Art – Food – Cooking”, a combination of recipes and art.

Chef Luca Marinelli from Black Sheep Restaurant and Chef Valentino Ugolini from CIAK – In the Kitchen will recreate one of Chef Uliassi’s signature dishes for our guests.

What’s more? Guests can savour a selection of chocolate sponsored by Venchi.

Mauro Uliassi is an Italian Chef who has transformed a beachside café into a world-class 3 Michelin stars restaurant. In 2021, his restaurant is ranked as the 52nd World’s Best Restaurant by the 50 Best Discovery.

Please note the following:

• Participants are required to scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application upon arrival
• Participants are required to have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
• All the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines.

Thank you for your kind understanding.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is delighted to invite you to our first Joint Happy Hour with the Europe Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce!

Don’t miss out on this event catching up with old friends and mingling with new ones! RSVP now to secure your spot!

Kindly note the following:

• Participants are required to scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application upon arrival
• Participants are required to have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
• Participants are required to be seated during the event

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

As we live in a fast-paced city, everyone is living a busy life trying to manage a work-life balance. We pursue and maintain a healthy lifestyle, including working out regularly, taking multivitamin supplements and adopting different diets.

In view of this, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is delighted to invite you to explore the Mediterranean diet with an after-work talk plus networking event.

In collaboration with Campo Marzio, a contemporary brand from Rome that specialises in leather; partnering with Pazta, an authentic Italian Restaurant and sponsored by Pantry Centrale, a premium Italian grocery store. The Mediterranean diet is ranked as the “No.1 Best Overall Diet” for 4 consecutive years on U.S News and World Report. 

Our guests will learn more about the Mediterranean diet by learning the nutritional value of the diet with a registered dietitian, and how to incorporate the diet into their hustling modern lifestyle. They will also have a taste of some signature ingredients of the Mediterranean diet, i.e. olive oil, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and balsamic vinegar provided by Pantry Centrale.

What’s more? Guests can mingle after the after-work talk with drinks and canépes provided by Pazta. Don’t miss out on this engaging event to learn more about the Mediterranean diet and enjoy the night!

ABOUT THE DIETITIAN

Ms Erica Poon, Registered Dietitian, Accredited Practising Dietitian (Australia)

Member of the Hong Kong Dietitian Association 

Monash University Bachelor of Nutrition Science (Scholars Program)

Monash University Master of Dietetics 

Erica Poon is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and a Registered Dietitian in Hong Kong. Graduated from Monash University, she completed her extensive dietetic training with a Bachelor of Nutrition Science (Scholars Program) and a Master of Dietetics in Australia. 

She is enthusiastic about promoting healthy living to the public. She has experience in working for non-profit organisations, designing healthy recipes and promoting public health. She has also practised at public hospitals in Australia, providing professional medical nutrition therapy to patients. 

Recently, she has been focusing on sharing evidence-based, fun and easy-to-read nutrition information to the public as @nutrition_ah_ga on Instagram. She aims to inspire and help people in eating wisely and living their best life. She is now a dietitian at NutriWise Nutrition Consultancy. 

Her specialities include weight management, cardiovascular health management, chronic disease management and the low FODMAP diet for irritable bowel syndrome.

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

• Jonny Amir, Beverage Director of Lan Kwai Fong Group, will tell the story and the typical features of vermouth, from its origins in the Northwest of Italy to the current most popular combinations with other flavours. 
• Simone Rossi, Beverage Manager at the Darkside bar of Rosewood Hotel, will show our guests how to prepare 3 different original cocktails with vermouth as the main ingredient.

The Italian Women’s Association (IWA), a charity regularly registered in Hong Kong since 1996, has been organising a charity fair at the Sandy Bay Hospital for the past 30 years.

This year the event changes location, but not the purpose!

Come join us and discover our broad variety of clothing for men, women, kids and babies, sunglasses, accessories, leather shoes, home appliances, makeup, stationery and much more! all kindly sponsored by famous Italian companies, and all at very affordable prices!

IWA’s annual market brings together both Hong Kong’s local and international communities for a special day of fun and, most importantly, support to those in need.

All the proceeds will be entirely donated to various Hong Kong registered charities.

Mr Marco D’Amore, CEO of Orcom C&A

Marco D’Amore joined Orcom C&A as CFO in 2012 and became the CEO in 2014. He leads Orcom C&A in Asia and overviews the administration of 4 offices and 60 employees in the region, expertise in strategic advice in China implementation.

Marco is a US Certified Public Accountant (CPA), expertise in audit and advisory services in the Food & Consumer Goods, Hospitality, Healthcare and Sports Industries. With his background of working at KPMG as a Senior Manager in the Switzerland corporate department for 11 years, Marco has broad experience in specific business issues related to different accounting and reporting frameworks (US GAAP, IFRS, Swiss GAAPRPC). He obtained his Executive Master in Business Administration at IMD Business school in Switzerland with honours in 2018.

Mr Nicolas Coster, Managing Partner of Coster Associates

Nicolas Coster founded Coster Associates Law Firm in 2016. He is a corporate lawyer and an arbitrator with extensive experience in both China and France, where he is a member of the Paris Bar Association. Nicolas aims to enable businesses to implement successfully and thrive in China with Coster Associates. The firm practises law in both Paris and Shanghai, advising and representing clients in litigation in various areas: General Corporate Law, Government and NGO Legal Affairs, Risk Compliance Affairs, Trade Secret Protection, Information System Security, Labor Law, IP Protection and more.

COVID-19 has significantly affected and shuttered the global economy in the past two years. Both China and Hong Kong have high hopes in recovering the economy by implementing different initiatives, including promoting domestic travel in China and the consumption voucher scheme in Hong Kong. As the growth rates of both industrial export and import in China are higher than the pre-pandemic level, and the economic growth in Hong Kong grew rapidly in the past quarter, the market is optimistic about the economic outlook in 2022.

In view of this, the Italian Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with The Economist, is honoured to invite you to this Afterwork Talk, an insightful occasion to learn the macro trends outlook for China and Hong Kong with the latest data and research conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and the Economist Corporate Network (ECN).

Don’t miss out on this informative after-work talk and participate in the networking session afterwards to discuss your views with others!

Ms Anne Chiou, Director of The Economist Corporate Network in Hong Kong

Anne Chiou brings extensive regulatory, business and policy as well as non-profit expertise. Prior to joining the Economist Group, she was Head of Programs for Business and Policy at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center.  She also worked extensively with senior banking executives as a regulator at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. Anne also formerly worked with multiple fintech start-ups, advising them of regulatory trends in Asia. She obtained a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Pomona College and a Master in Public Policy at Harvard University.

Innovation ecosystems vary enormously from one country to another. China, after making innovation a strategic priority for its economic development, continues to open up its market and to reinforce its technological innovation capabilities through increasing investment in talents and technologies.

In Italy, COVID-19 affected its social and economic system that already suffered long-term structural problems. However, the country can count on being the world’s 7th largest manufacturing economy, with a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem mainly made by dynamic SMEs. The post-pandemic era is also offering Italy an opportunity to structurally reorient public and private investments to further drive innovation and economic growth.

During this event, we will explore some of the challenges and opportunities that China and Italy are facing in fostering research, startup creation and growth, as well as innovation.

• 17:00 – 17:05 Welcome and Event Introduction – Enrico Iaria, Vice Coordinator Innovation & Technology WG at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China
• 17:05 – 17:15 Institutional remarks  –     Roberto Pagani, Science and Technology Counsellor at the Italian General Consulate of Shanghai
• 17:15 – 17:35 Startup and innovation ecosystem in China – Chaty Zheng, Head of International Cooperation Division at Shanghai Technology Innovation Center (STIC)
• 17:35 – 17:50 Startup and innovation ecosystem in Italy and Europe – Enrico Iaria, Vice Coordinator Innovation & Technology WG at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China
• 17:50 – 18:10 Research and Technology Transfer – Antonino Marcianò, President of the Association of the Italian Academics in China, and Professor of Physics at Fudan University
• 18:10 – 18:25 Q&As
• 18:25 – 18:30 Closing remarks

• Roberto Pagani, Science and Technology Counsellor at the Italian General Consulate of Shanghai
• Chaty Zheng, Head of International Cooperation Division at Shanghai Technology Innovation Center (STIC)
• Enrico Iaria, Vice Coordinator Innovation & Technology WG at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China
• Antonino Marcianò, President of the Association of the Italian Academics in China, and Professor of Physics at Fudan University

1. Participants are required to scan the LeaveHomeSafe app upon arrival;
2. As the venue is a category D restaurant, participants are required to receive at least one vaccination jab;
3. No entry without pre-purchased digital tickets through our event system. No tickets will be sold at the door;
4. Ticket(s) are not confirmed without payment.

The Honourable Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, will deliver her Policy Address to the Legislative Council in October.

Every year, the Hong Kong business community hosts a luncheon for over 1 000 executives to hear the Chief Executive elaborate on the Policy Address. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, this is not possible this year. However, we are deeply honoured that Mrs Lam has accepted our invitation to speak to the Hong Kong business community via Zoom on December 10th. Attendees will be able to hear Mrs Lam explain the priorities of her latest Policy Address, and learn more about her initiatives to support the economy and people’s livelihoods during this challenging time.

*Please note that this event is for members only

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is pleased to present the first edition of ITALIA GastronoMIA, an initiative part of ITALIA MIA Festival that aims to promote the true Italian culinary culture in Hong Kong and Macao.

Through the whole month of November, join the first edition of ITALIA GastronoMIA, discover the authentic flavours of true Italian delicacies and enjoy exclusive promotions from all participating restaurants and retailers. Have a taste of Italy without ever leaving Hong Kong!

How to enjoy the exclusive offers*:

1. Fill in the form here
2. Download your eCard after the registration
3. Download the eBooklet here to discover the special offers
4. Show the eCard to participating restaurants or physical retailer stores and enjoy authentic Italian products and dishes!

Please note that registration is mandatory and consumers will have to show the eCard in order to benefit from all the promotions and discounts offered by restaurants and physical retailers.

As we enter into a “new normal” in trade and business, there’s no time like the present to perform a check-up on your company’s health.

Business “health checks” can help corporations to highlight possible areas of vulnerability and growth. These checks also help to uncover challenges your business is likely to face now and in the future. Given today’s constantly developing legal and regulatory environment, company health checks are an efficient and effective exercise to not only test your internal levels of compliance but to ensure your business considers the issues affecting your industry in the broader commercial context.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is therefore pleased to invite you to this webinar in collaboration with RPC. 

In this webinar, experts from RPC will examine some of the typical terms in core agreements, ranging from commercial leases and supply chain agreements to employment contracts. RPC will also highlight key contractual terms to look out for and provide  various practical tips on risk mitigation.

Don’t miss out!

Ms Andrea Randall, Partner at RPC

Andrea is an employment lawyer who advises on both Hong Kong and English law. She has significant and extensive experience in high profile complex litigation, including multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Andrea is one of the very few employment lawyers in Hong Kong who is bilingual (English and Cantonese) and  acts for both employers and employees in all aspects of employment law, from essential day-to-day HR support to strategic advice on hiring employees, grievance, disciplinary action, internal investigations and terminations plus employment litigation of all types and in every forum (from Labour Tribunal to Court of Final Appeal).

Andrea is regularly ranked in all major legal directories, including Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, AsiaLaw and the Doyle’s Guide.

Ms Davina Turnbull, Senior Associate at RPC

Davina is a dual-qualified commercial lawyer who has been based in Hong Kong since 2012, having previously practised in England. She is a trusted business advisor to her clients, (which include international fashion houses, F&B multinationals, global insurers and Fintech companies), providing pragmatic and commercial advice to help them deliver their strategic goals. 

Davina has a breadth of corporate and commercial legal experience and is always the first port of call for her clients, irrespective of their legal concerns.  She has solid experience in drafting and negotiating standardised and bespoke commercial agreements (from shareholder agreements to franchise and distribution agreements) and managing corporate transactions (from JV’s to M&A’s). She also specialises in reviewing internal control mechanisms to identify legal and regulatory risks and provides commercial solutions and compliance guidance.  

In addition to providing in-house seminars for companies on key compliance issues, Davina has also had articles published in leading journals. She is currently nominated as a rising star in the Women In Business Law Awards 2021 Asia.

Are you curious to learn more about Italian wine? The Italian Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the F&B Committee, is delighted to present you the hidden treasures from the southern regions of Italy, landmarks of outstanding but lesser-known wineries on Thursday, 21 October from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Discover the outstanding “Donnafugata”, an authentic masterpiece of Sicily grown on the slopes of Etna volcano; or the great Varvaglione, a gem of the sunny countryside of Puglia and the innovative Librandi from Calabria.

Enjoy an authentic taste of Mediterranean excellence at Conrad Hong Kong; RSVP now to secure your spot.

*Please note that the venue is a Type C restaurant, guests must use the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application to check into the venue.

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

The Greater Bay Area represents one of the largest urban integration projects of our time and potentially constitutes a platform to operate not only in China but throughout Asia.

Senior leaders of a prestigious business journal and large international groups belonging to different sectors and different geographies take us through their GBA.

In light of the above, The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support the following webinar on 20 October organised by Gianni & Origoni, Camera di Commercio Italo Cinese and Fondazione Italia Cina: Greater Bay Area New Plans and New Opportunities in a Changing Global Market

Italian Young Professionals is pleased to invite you to the In the Mood to Mingle – Italian and Spanish Get-together networking cocktail on Tuesday, 19 October from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Enjoy an evening of connections with 2 drinks and canapés. Catch up with old friends and mingle with new ones at Grappa’s Cellar; RSVP now to secure your spot!

*Please note that participants are required to be a seated during the networking cocktail. The event will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. Thank you for your kind understanding.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao and the Green and Circular Economy Committee are pleased to announce the partnership with ReThink HK for this year’s edition.

ReThink HK has been designed to help businesses in our incredible city accelerate the rate of change towards a more sustainable future, for everyone.

Join this initiative on 05 – 06 October at Hall 3, HKCEC. Your delegate fee will contribute towards funding impact projects with ReThink’s Charity Partners – so good things will definitely happen because you come along.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is pleased to present “Pasta Masterclass”, a special project within the initiative TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, organized as part of The Extraordinary Italian Taste, a campaign promoted and financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

TRUE ITALIAN TASTE is a global initiative whose objective is to raise awareness of the benefits deriving from the use of authentic Italian agri-food products. In light of this, the project hopes to support suppliers of certified Italian products while illustrating the delectable qualities of Italian food.

On September 29th at Ciak Restaurant, guests will be able to enjoy and discover how authentic Italian Pasta Mancini is made, where it is from and how it can be paired to recreate the best Italian pasta dishes. This exclusive event will give the opportunity to learn more about the product from video explanations featuring the producers. Italian executive chef Valentino Ugolini will also showcase how to create 2 different Primi, featuring all authentic Italian excellences.

Learn more about the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE project at this link.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is delighted to present: Authentic Italian Retailer’s Award Ceremony, a dedicated event within the project TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, organised as part of the campaign “The Extraordinary Italian Taste”. The campaign is promoted and financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

TRUE ITALIAN TASTE is an international initiative whose main objective is to promote awareness of the benefits in utilising authentic Italian agri-food products. In this regard, the campaign hopes to support producers and suppliers of certified Italian products while demonstrating the delectable qualities of Italian food.

Participants in the event “Authentic Italian Retailer’s Award Ceremony” on September 24th will include store representatives of authentic and certified Italian agri-foods. For their contribution in countering “Italian Sounding”, these retailers will be awarded by Clemente Contestabile, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Ivano Poma, the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao.

During the award ceremony, store representatives will have the opportunity to introduce themselves to the audience. Each retailer will also be given a dedicated corner for them to showcase a range of Italian products that are sold in their stores. 

In July 2021, 133 jurisdictions including Hong Kong approved a statement providing a framework for the reform of existing international tax rules. Set to take effect in 2023, the new rules propose a global minimum effective tax rate of at least 15% applied on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis.

Due to Hong Kong’s various incentives and territorial system of taxation, a majority of its companies have an effective tax rate well below 15%. The new rules will apply to groups with turnover in excess of EUR 750 million, although changes to domestic tax rules in response may be more wide reaching.  Separately, the European Union is conducting a review of foreign source exclusion regimes such as those in Hong Kong, which may also put pressure on Hong Kong’s traditional system of low and simple tax.

In light of the challenges posed for jurisdictions like Hong Kong, the Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to this webinar in collaboration with KPMG.

In this webinar, with the partnerships of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hong Kong, and the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, an overview of the aforementioned tax proposal will be provided, possible consequences will be explored and common corporate arrangements that may be impacted will be discussed. 

Don’t miss out! Join this informative webinar to learn about how your company could be affected. Apprehend know-hows to help better prepare your business for these changes. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mr Ivor Morris, Partner at KPMG China

Ivor Morris joined KPMG’s Hong Kong office in 2009 and became a tax partner in 2017. Ivor has extensive experience in advising international clients in Hong Kong on their corporate tax matters. He works with many multinational groups and investment funds on cross-border related matters. Ivor received his Master’s degree in Arts from the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and serves on a number of industry and charity bodies.

The Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong and Macao in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is delighted to present “Ode to The Moon” Jazz Dinner at The Peninsula Hong Kong.

In a tribute to the Italian love for la luna, a special four-course menu is paired with contemporary Italian jazz performed by seasoned Hong Kong-based musicians, including famed jazz guitarist Eugene Pao, Sylvain Gagnon (bass), Toshi Horiguchi (keyboards), Steve Fuller (drums) and Miriam Ma (vocals).

For reservations and enquiries, please call +852 2696 6772, or email diningphk@peninsula.com.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao and the Quality Council of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to the hybrid workshop “Road to the East – Legal & Compliance for Retailing in China”.

At this workshop, experts will provide professional advice on how businesses can expand in China, one of the largest and dynamic consumer markets in the world. Interpreting new laws and recent jurisprudence trends, our experts will provide insights into the legislative system of China, ensuring that attendees are well-equipped to have a smooth and safe business in China.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to a Back to Work Cocktail on Thursday, 9 September from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

As the summer holiday comes to a close, kick start the final quarter of the year with a selection of cocktails and canapés.

Enjoy an evening of connections. Catch up with old friends and mingle with new ones at Paper moon; RSVP now to secure your spot!

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

New regulations and substantial changes to Law on Enterprise 2020 and Law on Investment 2020 have recently been adopted in Vietnam.

In light of its relevance to Foreign Invested Companies (FIC), the Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to this hybrid event in collaboration with Fidinam.

In this hybrid event, with the partnership of the Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the legal procedure to set up a FIC in Vietnam will be discussed with reference to the two aforementioned laws. Regarding the former, the new stipulation on capital contribution; the payment for capital transfer transactions and the responsibility of legal representatives will be explored. The latter will cover the new list of restricted sectors applicable to foreign investors; the list of businesses with conditional market access; investment incentives and changes in the requirements for M&A approvals.  

Don’t miss out! Attend this event to apprehend valuable insights into Vietnam’s FIC business landscape in the context of its new regulations.

Mr Alessandro Pedrinoni, CEO at Fidinam Asia Pacific and Managing Director at Fidinam Vietnam

Alessandro Pedrinoni is a senior executive with more than 20 years of experience in strategy, business consulting, financial analysis and corporate services. He has worked in Italy, the United Kingdom, mainland China, Hong Kong and Vietnam. His academic credentials include an Executive MBA at Instituto de Empresa (IE Business School).

Ms Sara Silenzi, Senior Manager of Italian Desk at Fidinam Hong Kong 

Sara Silenzi is experienced in International Corporate and Tax law. During her career, she has had different opportunities to oversee several Vietnamese companies’ incorporation. She holds a law degree from the University of Parma (Italy) and a second Level Master in Business and Company Law from LUISS University Guido Carli (Rome). She passed the Italian Bar Exam in 2015. 

Ms Anne De Roulhac, Head of French Desk at Fidinam Hong Kong 

Anne De Roulhac has 10 years of experience in corporate structuring, commercial agreements and taxation in France, mainland China and Hong Kong. She graduated in 2007 in France (Paris – Sorbonne University) in international taxation and business law and was admitted to the Paris Bar in 2011 as a French qualified lawyer. 

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is delighted to present: Italian Liquor Masterclass, a dedicated event within the project TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, organised as part of the campaign “The Extraordinary Italian Taste”. The campaign is promoted and financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

TRUE ITALIAN TASTE is part of a national campaign whose main objective is to promote awareness of the benefits in utilising authentic Italian agri-food products. In light of this, the initiative hopes to support producers and suppliers of certified Italian products while demonstrating the enticing qualities of Italian food.

Gin is a distilled alcoholic beverage that mainly derives its flavour from juniper berries. Although it did not originate in Italy, the country is currently one of the largest exporters of juniper. Due to its rich and unique terrain, Italian gins are endowed with natural ingredients, giving them their distinctive taste and making them a crucial element of every bartender’s repertoire.

On 28 July, during the Masterclass, an expert will showcase how to blend 3 cocktails with gins acquired from three different regions: a Gin & Tonic with Portofino Dry Gin from Liguria; a Martini using Ginepraio London Dry Gin from Tuscany and a Highball drink mixed with Muma Gin from Apulia.

Through this exclusive Masterclass, our guests will have the chance to taste the authenticity of various Italian-produced liquors. Our guests will also be given an exciting opportunity to win vouchers for Tablo, homeware Italian specialist, by taking part in the Italian Liquor Social Media Contest.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is delighted to invite you to a Summer Networking Cocktail in collaboration with the Italian Young Professionals Committee on Wednesday, 14 July from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

Spend an evening indulging in cocktails while exchanging thoughts and experiences with old and new friends.

Enjoy a night of networking at DiVino Wine Bar & Restaurant; RSVP now to secure your spot!

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is delighted to invite you to join this webinar in collaboration with PwC on their recently released Report of the Hopes & Fears 2021 Survey.

The report addresses the significant shift in workforce models during this period of uncertainty and volatility; the hopes, fears and hindrances to job security as well as various emerging employee desires, such as acquiring new skills, remote working and greater flexibility in comparison to supervision.

In this webinar, with the partnership of both the Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, the implications of COVID-19 and the subsequent wave of digitisation and intelligence on peoples’ lives and employment will be explored.

Mr Michael Cheng, Partner, People & Organisation at PwC Mainland China and Hong Kong

Michael leads digital HR services across a breadth of sectors in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Asia. He has led large-scale digital transformations for large organisations across the globe, advising on how clients can maximise digital HR and enable their people strategy. He has over 20 years of experience designing, developing, deploying and optimising enterprise-level solutions around HR automation, process optimisation and alignment for the achievement of corporate objectives.

Michael’s experience includes the development of digital solutions to enable large-scale global HR and Finance transformation initiatives involving significant organisational and technological change with a focus on delivering scalable and flexible cloud-based SaaS solutions (Workday, Salesforce) as the technology enabler. Michael also has extensive experience working with Fortune 500 global organisations at all levels, from the C-Suite level to individual contributors.

Ms Elaine Huang, Partner, Consulting at PwC Hong Kong

Elaine is a Partner with the Consulting practice with experience in banking and consulting. She provides professional services to clients across a wide range of topics including Analytics; Stress testing and Capital analysis; ESG advisory and climate risk management; Digital Banking and Credit Lending, and advisory services in relation to regulations from HKMA, SFC, OCC and FRB.

Elaine has worked with international banks in Asia Pacific and Europe, local banks in Hong Kong as well as Chinese banks in Hong Kong and China.

La Camera di Commercio Italiana Hong Kong e Macao è felice di presentare: TRUE ITALIAN TASTE – Le Nuove Sfide per i Prodotti Agroalimentari Italiani a Hong Kong, un evento organizzato nell’ambito del progetto TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, parte del programma “The Extraordinary Italian Taste”, promosso e finanziato dal Ministro degli Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, e realizzato da Assocamerestero in collaborazione con le Camere di Commercio Italiane all’estero per valorizzare e salvaguardare il prodotto agroalimentare autentico italiano. True Italian Taste è un’iniziativa che ha come scopo l’incremento della consapevolezza sull’autenticità dei prodotti italiani con marchio DOP e IGP e l’espansione del loro consumo nei mercati stranieri.

Dall’inizio della pandemia di Covid-19, il panorama del mercato agroalimentare ad Hong Kong è cambiato radicalmente, ponendo le aziende attive nel settore di fronte a impegnative sfide, ma anche a nuove opportunità. I ristoranti, gli importatori e la grande distribuzione organizzata hanno dovuto fare i conti con una situazione inedita che ha richiesto nuove soluzioni. Durante il webinar discuteremo con i key players del settore di quanto i prodotti agroalimentari italiani siano apprezzati e popolari ad Hong Kong, come possiamo affrontare le sfide e come possiamo avvantaggiarci delle opportunità offerte da questo mercato così dinamico.

Please note that this webinar will be in Italian.

Influencers, otherwise known locally as “Key Opinion Leaders” (KOLs), have been an internet phenomenon in recent years, attracting attention from marketers with the consumer traffic they bring.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is therefore pleased to invite you to join this informative webinar in collaboration with Baker McKenzie.

In this webinar, experienced lawyers at Baker McKenzie, situated both in Hong Kong and Milan will go over the tips and tricks when working with KOLs from a legal perspective. This includes the laws and regulations you need to be mindful of; the contract preparation that is imperative in steering towards a win-win outcome between brands as well as internet stars, and future trends to expect in influencer marketing.

Don’t miss out. Attend this webinar to apprehend valuable insights into pitfalls that may pose risks to a brand from a regulatory perspective and to acquire skills to, more importantly, avoid such scenarios.

Loke Khoon Tan, Partner, Hong Kong

Loke is a senior partner of Baker McKenzie’s award-winning Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group in Hong Kong and China. He leads the Consumer Goods & Retail (including Luxury and Fashion) Industry Practice in Asia Pacific.

Andrew Sim, Partner, Hong Kong

Andrew is a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Hong Kong office and a member of the Firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Practice Group. He was the past Office Lead for the Consumer Goods and Retail Industry in Beijing and his practice includes product recall, consumer complaints, franchise recordals, product quality and advertising issues. He also heads the F&B industry initiative and is the Global Chair of the Plant Variety Rights (PVR) Practice.

Helen Pang, Associate, Hong Kong

Helen is an associate in Baker McKenzie’s Hong Kong office and a member of the Firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Practice Group. Her practice focuses on the enforcement of brand-related intellectual property rights in Hong Kong and China, especially on civil litigation and enforcement work involving trademarks, counterfeiting, patents and copyright. Helen also has experience providing advice on licensing and commercial IP issues and agreements.

Davide Cascone, Junior Associate, Milan

Davide is a junior associate and member of Baker McKenzie’s IP Tech team in Milan. He focuses his practice on data privacy, data security and IT law-related matters, advising clients on data processing strategies, e-commerce, digital advertising, copyright and consumer protection. He also has experience in litigation vis-à-vis data subjects and proceedings before the Italian data protection authority.

The recent implementation of new laws in China has resulted in several changes in the calculation and enforcement of the Chinese Individual Income Tax (IIT). Focused on expanding deductibles, adjusting tax brackets and changing residency rules, the aim of the new IIT law is to ease the tax burden on low to mid-income earners while taking a tougher stance on both foreign workers and individuals belonging to a higher income bracket.

In this regard, the Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to an informative webinar in collaboration with Deloitte. During this webinar, our experts will explore the new China IIT regimes (GBA and Hainan IIT regime); the IIT tax incentives in China for expatriates and the tax implications on dual employment in light of the treaty between Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Olderigo Fantacci, Tax Partner at Deloitte

Olderigo is a tax partner with more than twenty-five years of experience in Italian and international tax issues within Deloitte in Italy, in the US and, currently, in China. 

After working at Deloitte’s Rome and Milan offices, he became a tax partner in Florence where he established and led the local tax practice from 2000 to 2008. From 2008 until 2012, he worked at Deloitte US in New York as a Managing Director of the Italian Desk, assisting many Deloitte US clients with their investments in Italy. Since 2012, Olderigo has been at the head of Deloitte Italy’s China Desk in Hong Kong where he supports Italian firms based in China and Asia-Pacific with their local tax issues and consults Chinese groups in the acquisition process of investments in Italy.

Rebecca Lai, Partner at Deloitte

Rebecca is a partner of the Global Employer Services team of Deloitte China. Rebecca has twenty-five years of consulting experience in global mobility areas, serving clients from different industries and scales. 

With experience working in both Beijing and Shanghai, Mainland China for 18 years, Rebecca focuses on complex global expatriate tax and inbound and outbound mobility programs across various scales and industries. Additional focus areas include: reward offerings;  China employment tax initiatives;  tax-effective compensation and benefits structuring;  equity incentive plan design and implementation; cross-border taxation; social security; work visa/immigration consultation and advisory on high net-worth individuals.

In 1987, the United Nations defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report). In recent years, sustainability has become the centre of attention in discussions for both public and private institutions.

In February 2021, during the budget 2021-2022’s speech, the Hong Kong Government announced its commitment to transform the Hong Kong region into a Green and Sustainable Finance Hub and announced the issue of a total of US$22.5bn (HK$175.5bn) worth of green bonds over the next five years.

This year, the UK and Italy have also committed to putting climate change and the reversal of biodiversity loss at the heart of its multilateral agenda in 2021 through the Presidencies of the G7, G20 and COP26.

Seizing momentum on the above initiatives linking Hong Kong and Italy and the acceleration of interest towards sustainability during the pandemic, the academic community in Hong Kong and Italy gathers together to share the progress of their research around the topic and to open a dialogue with the private sector to understand their efforts in practicing and promoting sustainability.

With the intention of fostering collaborations between academia and the business community, the event will unfold with a series of academic presentations by experts from different fields followed by a roundtable of Italian businesses whose representatives will discuss the opportunities as well as challenges of embarking on a sustainable journey.

• This event is closed to the media.
• All the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is pleased to present “Authentic Italian Table”, a special project within the initiative TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, organised as part of The Extraordinary Italian Taste, a campaign promoted and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

TRUE ITALIAN TASTE is a global initiative whose objective is to raise awareness of the benefits derived from the use of authentic Italian agri-food products. In light of this, the project hopes to support suppliers of certified Italian products while illustrating the delectable qualities of Italian food.

On 16 June, during the event, Chef Angelo Aglianò, Director at Tosca di Angelo will articulate a full Italian Table, highlighting the authenticity and historical roots of Italian products.

Through this exclusive event, guests will be taken on a gastronomic journey, uncovering innovative recipes of Sicily’s regional cuisine and recognising the importance of using authentic Italian products.

Learn more about the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE project at this link.

The Chinese government has been in a virtual frenzy to address many long-standing weaknesses in IP protection in the country. While some of the recent initiatives are a work in progress, others merit close attention by Hong Kong and foreign businesses.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to an informative webinar in collaboration with SIPS. In this webinar, our speaker will provide an update on recent developments in the Protection of Intellectual Property in China, with a particular focus on brand protection, patents, enforcement of rights online, and new best practices that are emerging based on recent changes in the law.

Don’t miss out on this enlightening webinar!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mr Joe Simone, Founder and Partner at SIPS

Joe Simone is the founder and a partner with SIPS, a firm focused mainly on the protection of IP rights in Greater China, including the PRC, the Hong Kong SAR, and the Taiwan region. Joe has advised companies on the protection of their IP rights in Greater China since the mid-1980s.  He is also a UDRP arbitrator handling domain name disputes under WIPO.  Joe publishes frequently on IP topics in China and contributes regularly to position papers on legislative reforms issued by trade groups and professional associations.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is pleased to invite you on Friday, 11 June, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM to be our guest and discover the latest Italian Logo Collection at MOSCHINO’s Italian Night.

Treat yourself to exclusive shopping discounts at MOSCHINO The Landmark Store, RSVP now to secure your spot.

*Please note that all the participants are asked to wear a mask inside the store during the event.

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is pleased to invite you on Thursday, 10 June, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM to attend the first event of the ItalianCham Open Talks Series in Hong Kong.

An exclusive evening during which Allan Zeman and Alberto Forchielli, moderated by Giuliano Castellano, will share their thoughts and perspectives of Hong Kong in the era of the superpower struggle.

Do not miss the first ItalianCham Open Talks event at The Qube in PMQ.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Allan Zeman

Dr. Zeman is the founder and Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group and the owner of Paradise Properties Group. Dr. Zeman serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Sino Land Company Limited, Tsim Sha Tsui Properties Limited, Global Brands Group, Television Broadcasts Limited (“TVB”), Fosun Tourism Group and is the Non-Executive Director of Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited, all of which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Dr. Zeman is also the Non-Executive Chairman of Wynn Macau Limited, a prominent gaming operator in the US and Macau. Dr. Zeman is a director of the “Star” Ferry Company, Limited.

Having lived in Hong Kong for over 45 years, Dr. Zeman has been very involved in government services as well as community activities. Besides having been the Chairman of Hong Kong Ocean Park, a major theme park in Hong Kong, from July 2003 to June 2014, Dr Zeman is now an honorary advisor. Dr. Zeman was a member of the Board of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, and the chairman of its Performing Arts Committee from 2008 to 2016. Dr Zeman is now an honorary advisor and Chairman of its Letting Commercial Panel. Dr Zeman is also a member of the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development and a member of the Human Resources Planning Commission (HRPC) chaired by Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung.

In September 2014, Dr. Zeman appointed as a Governor of Our Hong Kong Foundation founded by Ex HKSAR Chief Executive Mr CH Tung. In 2015, Dr. Zeman was appointed to the board of directors of The Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund launched by Alibaba Group.

Dr. Zeman is a holder of Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from The University of Western Ontario, Canada. In 2012, he was awarded Honorary Doctorate Degrees of Business Administration from City University of Hong Kong and University of Science and Technology of Hong Kong. In 2019, Dr Zeman was awarded Honorary Doctorate Degrees of Business Administration from Open University of Hong Kong.

Dr. Alberto Forchielli

Founding partner of Mandarin Capital Partners, Alberto owes his strategic skills to 35 years of managerial experience in international affairs development, with a particular focus on the United States, Europe, and China.

Throughout the course of his multifaceted professional career, in addition to being Special Advisor to the Italian Minister of Defence, to the Italian Minister of Budget and Southern Italy and to the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, he worked for the World Bank for three years, first in Washington DC and then separately via the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.

He is an accomplished author of economics and international affairs, with various publications in different languages.

He lived in Singapore for 5 years prior, where he was the head of Finmeccanica S.p.A for the Asia/Pacific region. He has been a member of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) advisory board in Shanghai.

In the early nineties, general for the privatization of IRI, Forchielli managed twenty state-owned companies in diverse sectors.

His career began in Boston (USA) with the MAC Group/Gemini Consulting. He worked in Boston, London, Santiago, Lima, Milan, and he became the founder and administrator of the Italian branch. Alberto Forchielli received an MBA with honours from Harvard Business School and economics from the University of Bologna.

Dr. Giuliano G. Castellano

Dr Giuliano G. Castellano is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong, the Director of the Law Exchange Programme (Incoming) and a Deputy Director of the Asian Institute of International Financial Law (AIIFL). He holds a Law Degree (Bocconi), a PhD in Law (University Turin), and a PhD in Economics & Social Sciences (Polytechnique, Paris).

Before joining HKU, he was an Associate Professor at the University of Warwick, where he taught for the School of Law and delivered training to the Bank of England for the Warwick Business School. Prior to that, he was a Research Fellow of the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, Law Department.

Dr Castellano’s research and teaching interests lie in the areas of international financial law, financial markets regulation, and regulatory compliance. His research has been published in leading scholarly journals, such as the Modern Law Review (LSE), Law & Contemporary Problems (Duke), and Hastings Law Journal (University of California). His projects received the support of external, competitive grant schemes in Italy, France, Hong Kong, and the U.K. Currently, he is the Principal Investigator of a research project on access to credit and financial inclusion funded by the Research Grants Council (GRF 2018/2019).

Beyond academia, Dr Castellano collaborates with international organisations and domestic governments. Upon appointment of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since 2010, he has been serving as a Legal Expert and a Delegate for Italy on matters related to secured credit at the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). In 2020, the Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) appointed him to represent Italy within an international Expert Group tasked to prepare a Factoring Model Law.

Furthermore, Dr Castellano has been advising international organisations, including the World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, on global policies to promote access to credit, SME lending, and post-COVID19 economic recovery. In this capacity, he has been working with domestic governments, central banks, and regulatory agencies of over twenty jurisdictions across four continents to enact legal and regulatory reforms supporting trade finance.

Tax treaties and double tax agreements are excellent tools to boost and strengthen bilateral economic relationships and promote cross-border investments. Currently, thousands of tax treaties and arrangements are in force worldwide. China, for example, has signed 104 double taxation agreements and 16 free trade agreements. However, with multi-jurisdiction regulations and differing tax systems, International Taxation can be complex.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is therefore delighted to present to you the following webinar in collaboration with RsA Asia Tax Advisors: China-Italy New Tax Treaty and International Taxation.

In this webinar, RsA Asia Tax Advisors will address main issues in international tax trends with a specific focus on double tax conventions and the new China-Italy tax treaty; signed on 23 March 2019 and currently in the process of ratification.

Join us today for this informative webinar! Hope to see you there!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mr Lorenzo Riccardi, Managing Partner at RsA Asia Tax Advisors

Lorenzo, Managing Partner at RsA Asia Tax Advisors, teaches taxation at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He is a Certified Public Accountant specialised in international taxation and has covered roles in the governance of non-profit organizations and multi-national companies, including the largest Italian groups in luxury, food and mechanical sectors. He has also published extensively on foreign investments in developing and frontier economies.

The National 14th Five-Year plan, approved in March at the fourth session of the 13th National People’s Congress, provides a blueprint and action plan for the social and economic development of the country in the next five years.

The 14th Five-Year Plan continues to highlight Hong Kong as an important element in its various chapters, which should help to maintain our city’s long-term prosperity and stability as well as provide enormous opportunities for the future development of Hong Kong.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce has invited the Chief Executive Carrie Lam to speak to the business community on 3 June on the plan’s implications for the future development of Hong Kong. In this webinar, Mrs Lam will share her insights on the plan, including how she foresees the plan to shape Hong Kong’s future and how the business community can benefit and contribute to the plan.

• The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce will provide the unique Zoom link to each attendee three days prior to the event.
• This event is closed to the media.
• The speaker’s presentations at this event is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace independent professional judgment. Statements of fact and opinions expressed during this event are those of the speaker(s) and participants and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, are not the opinion or position of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, its members, or its committees. The Chamber does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, accuracy or completeness of the information presented. Attendees should note that, with the approval of speakers, this event may be recorded, and possibly published on the Chamber’s website in audio and/or video formats without further notice.
• Recording, duplication or distribution of the contents of the online event is prohibited without prior written permission from the Chamber.

In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Festa della Repubblica, the Italian Chamber of Commerce is delighted to invite you to a Networking Cocktail on Wednesday, 2 June from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Let’s celebrate Italian National Day together! Render your appetite and stun your senses with an authentic taste of Italy catered by CRUST Italian, an up-and-coming game-changer in the Italian gastronomic scene.

Carefully curated by the team at CRUST Italian, the evening boasts a celebrated menu of Naples and Amalfi Coast’s legendary tastes and ingredients, evoking the essence of the Campania region and its famed capital like nowhere else.

Secure your spot to enjoy a night of networking and intoxicating pleasures!

The Italian Chamber of Commerce looks forward to your attendance.

*Please note that in accordance with the latest regulations of the Hong Kong Government, under the recently implemented “vaccine bubble”, attendees for the Italian National Day Party on Wednesday, 2 June, are subject to the following requirements:

• Received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Please bring to the event the vaccination certificate or download and install the “iAM Smart” mobile app by scanning the QR code (more details of “iAM Smart” available here).
• Use the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application.
• In the case a guest is unable to receive the vaccination due to health reasons, the guest is required to complete the specified form, produce a medical certificate and a negative test.

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is pleased to present: TRUE ITALIAN TASTE – New Challenges And New Opportunities For The Italian Wine in Hong Kong, a dedicated event within the project TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, organized as part of the campaign “The Extraordinary Italian Taste”. The campaign is promoted and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

TRUE ITALIAN TASTE is part of a national campaign whose main goal is to promote awareness around the world and protect authentic and certified agri-food Italian products. In doing so, the project hopes to support makers of certified Italian products while showcasing the healthy qualities of Italian food.

Wine is one of the flagship products of the Italian agro-food sector, and it is well-known all around the world for its quality, elegance and variety. The most recent evolution of the wine market in Hong Kong sets new challenges and new opportunities for this fantastic product in Hong Kong.

During the webinar, we will discuss with key players from the industry how Italian wine is doing compared with French and New World’s wine, how we can face the new challenges and how we can take advantage of the new opportunities offered by this dynamic market

Learn more about the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE project at this link.

Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in China often encounter challenges about how to manage employment relationships due to cultural and legal differences.

Business operators are required to understand the right way to commence a successful working relationship under Chinese law regardless of whether they are hiring local or foreign staff. Therefore, having a well-drafted employment contract and company handbook, and knowing how to legally terminate an employment relationship, is critical to minimizing risks and costs for a company.

Labour costs are also one of the most relevant costs for companies operating in China. According to the new Regulations for the Implementation of the Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC, starting from 1 January 2022, foreign taxpayers will no longer enjoy the preferential policy of tax exemptions and the beneficial tax treatment for yearly bonuses. These aforementioned reforms will lead to a significant increase in labour costs for companies operating in China.

In light of the above, The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support the following webinar on 27 May organised by Hawksford in collaboration with Zhong Lun Law Firm: How to Avoid Labour Risks When Hiring Employees in China and the New IIT Reform.

During this webinar, experts from Hawksford and Zhong Lun Law Firm will provide both legal and tax perspectives in order to help FIEs better navigate the booming Chinese market.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Ms Francesca Scortichini, Associate Director of Account Management at Hawksford, China

Francesca has considerable experience in advising Italian and international clients, from trading, retail and industrial companies on investments in China and other parts of Asia. Francesca joined the Hawksford Shanghai office in June 2014. Prior to joining Hawksford, she worked as a tax consultant for Italian CPA firms and in the asset management department of an international-leading investment bank. Francesca graduated in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan in 2004 and is a professional Chartered Accountant in Italy.

Dario obtained his Master’s degree in Industrial Economics from North-western University (China). He is fluent in Mandarin, heads Hawksford Guangzhou and Shenzhen offices, having been with Hawksford Guangzhou since 2016 where he’s part of the steering committee of the Network of Young Italian Professionals in China.

Matthew Warr is a Legal Consultant at Zhong Lun Guangzhou Office. Matthew has a wealth of experience providing legal advice and services to international companies investing in or trading with China. Matthew’s expertise includes corporate & commercial law, foreign direct investment, mergers & acquisitions, labour & employment, intellectual property, compliance & investigations, criminal defence, and litigation & arbitration. His clients are mainly multinational corporations and small-medium enterprises from various countries and regions around the world. Matthew is also a Board Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) South China, is fluent in English and Chinese (Mandarin), and has lived in China for more than a decade.

Wondering how to manage cash flow during Covid? The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to join an insightful webinar in collaboration with Velotrade. The webinar aims to provide Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with guidance on how to structure their cash flow plans in response to issues that have arisen as a result of Covid-19. In fact, in order to ensure long-term security for your business, managing cash flow optimally is imperative, especially in periods of crises.

During the webinar, guests will dive into the specifics of Cash Flow Management with Velotrade; a web-based trade finance solution that brings together businesses looking for financing to investors ready to advance funds.

The discussion will cover the nature of cash flow, the implications of disrupted cash flow on SMEs and the importance of planning, monitoring and reviewing cash flow forecasts for business survival. We will focus on the different Cash Flow Solutions FinTech firms have devised for SMEs and how they are likely to be affected in the short and long-run. Lastly, we will conclude by touching upon notions of Trade Finance.

Join us for this informative webinar! Hope to see you there!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mr Vittorio De Angelis, Executive Chairman at Velotrade Management Limited

Vittorio is executive chairman and co-founder of Velotrade, a Hong Kong-based online marketplace that brings together businesses seeking trade finance solutions with investors willing to advance funds.

Vittorio graduated in 1993 from the Bocconi University of Milan in Monetary Economics and moved to Hong Kong in 2008 following his appointment as Head of Equity Derivatives Brokerage at Louis Capital Markets.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that SHAPERZ will be joining the StartmeupHK Festival in Hong Kong with SHAPERZ-FINNOVASIA’s debut SME Tech two-day event on 24 and 25 May.

This year, the festival organised by Invest Hong Kong will be held virtually. The event aims to support small and medium regional enterprises in their digital transformation.

This event will feature the most prominent and inspiring entrepreneurs who have proven their digital strategy to be successful.

Don’t miss this opportunity. Hear from executives and founders from Shopify, Uber, foodpanda, 9GAG, GOGOX, Rakuten and many more!

Amongst increasing global uncertainty and instability, how should individuals and family businesses structure their wealth, and what preventative steps should they take, to protect themselves against the unknown?

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to an illuminating webinar in collaboration with Withers Hong Kong.

In this online seminar, our guests will learn more about:

• The importance of a personal estate plan to preserve assets and interests in life and also on death – wills, trusts and other legal tools.
• The importance of mitigating risks relating to business assets through proper structuring and contractual arrangements – shareholders’ agreements.
• The importance of avoiding claims against personal and business assets in the event of a divorce, and the impact of foreign marriage contracts – nuptial agreements.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ugo Privitera, Senior Associate, Withers Hong Kong

Ugo is a senior associate in the private client and tax team of the Hong Kong office and is a dual qualified English Solicitor and Italian lawyer (avvocato).

He mainly advises clients on international succession, tax, trust and estate planning, investment structuring and probate as well as on complex cross-border inheritance matters with common law and civil law angles.

He is an expert in EU Regulations affecting private individuals, such as the Succession Regulation and the Matrimonial Property Regimes Regulations.

Ugo joined the London office of the firm in 2010 and, up to August 2014, worked with the UK Italian Desk on matters with a main Italian angle. As an avvocato, he built significant expertise on investments in the Italian real estate market, tax and succession issues, corporate and commercial deals. He then focussed on private clients and tax matters, and, as a solicitor, has acquired extensive international expertise in that area.

Vanessa Duff (Mitchell), Senior Associate, Withers Hong Kong

Vanessa is a senior associate in the divorce and family team.

Vanessa is qualified in England & Wales and Hong Kong, and she is a native French speaker.

She has over 12 years of experience in advising on all aspects of family law and issues which result from the breakdown of a relationship, including divorce, financial arrangements, and separation. She also advises clients in connection with disputes involving children, including the financial aspects, issues relating to custody, care and control and access, as well as on applications for leave to remove a child from the jurisdiction.

Vanessa has particular expertise in dealing with cases which have an international perspective, with a particular interest in cases having a Hong Kong-European dimension and jurisdictional disputes. She has numerous relationships with foreign lawyers and is able to manage multi-country cases and rapidly source foreign advice where necessary.

She is a specialist in advising on and drafting prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, and separation agreements, both domestic and international. This is an area of practice which requires sensitivity and tact. She also has a good understanding of European marital regimes and marriage contracts.

Winnie Weng, Senior Associate, Withers Hong Kong

Winnie is a senior associate in the corporate team.

She is experienced in a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including cross-border and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, franchising, licensing and distribution. She aims to provide all-rounded legal services to clients to enhance and safeguard their interests against possible business and structural risks, such as regulatory compliance, corporate governance, exit mechanisms, intellectual property issues and employment matters.

Winnie has advised clients and negotiated with counterparties coming from a broad spectrum of backgrounds ranging from start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to listed companies and Fortune 500 companies.

Prior to joining Withers, she was the head of the corporate and commercial department of a long-standing local law firm in Hong Kong.

As digital transformation is spreading across various industries, businesses are required to go digital in order to survive and stay competitive. Technologies that seemed unimaginable in the past are now considered essential for any business operation.

Global digitalization has seen China as an increasingly important character in this process. But, what are the new digitalization trends? Are there any legal issues? How are companies complying with laws in China?

To answer these questions, the Italian Chamber of Commerce is delighted to invite you to the following hybrid event: Digital Transformation of Businesses in China, Hong Kong and Asia – Challenges and Opportunities. During this hybrid event, Euromonitor will guide our guests through the recent trends in the digitalization process in China, Hong Kong and Asia.

Our expert from Baker McKenzie will elaborate on the New Commerce law in China and will analyze some e-commerce issues. Here, we will learn about various legal issues that may arise when entering e-commerce platforms in China, focusing on practical cases, such as Taobao and Tmall and we will explore the impact of the aforementioned Commerce law on small and big businesses in China.

Finally, Moleskine, a global brand investing in China, will present its point of view on the processes involved in digitalization, giving our guests an opportunity to understand the reality of a company that is actively interfacing with the country.

Join us on Wednesday, 5 May 2021! Do not miss the chance to gain insightful perspectives from our panellists.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Emily Leung, Senior Analyst at Euromonitor

Emily Leung is a Senior Analyst specializing in Services and Payments at Euromonitor International, Hong Kong. In her current position, Emily focuses on providing market insights for multiple areas. She pursues her great interest in analyzing and delivering the latest market trends and insights to clients through marketing sizing, forecasting and competitor landscaping.

Paolo Sbuttoni, Technology and Data Privacy Partner at Baker McKenzie

Paolo is a technology and data privacy partner at Baker McKenzie, Hong Kong and a member of the Firm’s IT & Technology Practice Group. He advises clients across a broad range of sectors. His most recent focus has been on cloud services, digital transformation projects, assisting Asian based clients with data privacy compliance and advising clients on the launch of e-commerce services in Asia.

Andrea Mantovani, Group Ecommerce Director at Moleskine

With 13+ years of experience in e-commerce and digital transformation, Andrea is leading the online business domain for Moleskine worldwide. Right after the IPO in 2013, Andrea ran the first e-commerce re-platforming project in Moleskine, developing Moleskine’s online business and digital presence in China, successfully bridging e-commerce into a seamless integration with the retail channel.

2021 will be remembered as the year of Mars. Three missions from three different countries have reached the Red Planet to probe different aspects of the Martian environment and pave the way for the first human settlers.

As new images flow from space, netizens are keeping their eyes on their screens, ultimately trying to answer the question of when Terrans will colonise the Red Planet!

Italy has a unique role in this. The fascination with Mars started with the observation of Schiaparelli during the Great Opposition of 1877, when many imagined the planet as riddled with canals (that is artificial channels) and with its own system of oceans and continents, speculations that not even the Mariner program with its flybys was able to smother completely.

But Italian involvement has not ended with Schiaparelli, as many researchers and institutions are still at the forefront, pushing the technology and the scientific research ahead to widen our knowledge about the Red Planet.

We are therefore pleased to present this webinar, where our speakers from the HKU Laboratory for Space Research and the UNIPD-CISAS will lead us toward Mars and beyond!

Mark your calendars for this exclusive discussion! Join this webinar to learn more about the future of space exploration.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Prof. Quentin Parker, FRAS, Director of the Laboratory for Space Research at The University of Hong Kong

Quentin Parker currently directs the HKU Laboratory for Space Research and has established a world-leading group in late-stage stellar evolution that includes post-AGB stars, planetary nebulae and massive star ejecta. He joined the Department of Physics at Hong Kong University in March 2014. Prior to that, he was the joint AAO/Macquarie lecturer in Astronomy (2002-2015) and Director of the Research Centre for Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics (2010-2014). He also worked at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (1986-1992), Anglo-Australian Observatory (1992-1999) and as a senior research fellow at the Institute for Astronomy in Edinburgh (1999-2002).

Prof. Stefano Debei, Director of CISAS “G. Colombo” at The University of Padua

Stefano Debei directs the Centre of Studies and Activities for Space CISAS “G. Colombo”. Full professor in Mechanical, Thermal and Testing Measurements at the University of Padua, since 1999 he has taught courses in Mechanical, Aerospace and Energy Engineering. He is currently holding courses in Space Measurements and Space Robotics for the Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering. He is also a Technical Manager of SIMBIOS-SYS, an integrated experiment consisting of a high-resolution camera, stereo camera and spectrometer hyperspectral, for the BebiColombo ESA mission. Prof. Debei is the author of more than 300 articles published in international journals and in proceedings of international conferences.

Prof. Joseph Michalski, Deputy Director of the Laboratory for Space Research at The University of Hong Kong

Joseph Michalski is a geologist and planetary scientist interested in mineral exploration (on any planet) and the relationship between geology, mineralogy and life. His expertise is in clay mineralogy, clay minerals in the solar system, the geology and astrobiology of Mars, and remote sensing and spectroscopy. Using remote sensing and spectroscopy as tools, he explores the geologic history and habitability of Mars and other planetary objects. At the University of Hong Kong, he operates the Planetary Spectroscopy and Mineralogy Laboratory (PSML). Joseph is a CIFAR fellow and a senior editor for Oxford University Press. Awards and Honors: Marie Curie Scholar, United Kingdom Space Agency Aurora Scholar, Bowling Green State University Distinguished Alumni, Arizona State University Graduate Scholar.

Prof. Denis Bastieri, Special Advisor for Guangdong at The University of Padua

Denis Bastieri is a professor in General Physics at the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padua, and is a distinguished professor at the Center for Astrophysics, Guangzhou University. He is also affiliated with the Centre of Studies and Activities for Space CISAS “G. Colombo”, University of Padua; the Laboratory for Space Research, University of Hong Kong and the “Space Philosophy Research Centre”, University of Padua. He is the Special Advisor for International Relations with Guangzhou at the University of Padua. His main interests are in the field of High-Energy and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics, in particular using Low-Power and High-Throughput Computing to deal with Big Data. Denis was awarded  “Highly Cited Researcher (world top 1%)” by Clarivate Analytics.

Dr. Rosaria Prochilo, Research Assistant at the Laboratory for Space Research at The University of Hong Kong

MSc Student in Aerospace Engineering. BSc in Aerospace Engineering-Polytechnic of Turin (2016); MSc Exchange Student-Guangzhou University (2018); MSc in Aerospace Engineering-University of Padova (2020). Her research interests are in engineering solutions for aerospace research.

The Italian Young Professional Committee is glad to present its first Round Table on April 28th. During each meeting members of the committee will meet and interact with experienced managers and leaders, discussing a various range of topics aimed at boosting the professional and personal life.

During this first appointment, we will meet Mr, Jose Carlos Bezanilla, Chief Executive Office for Great Place to Work Greater China who will deepen the meaning of Creativity.

Creativity, the mostly hidden immense potential within ourselves. No kidding!

Have you ever felt you want to move from the seat of a bystander to a starring actor of your own performance?

Were you aware, Creativity is an essential part of our design as humans, a natural call; ironically ignored or sadly underexploited?

Would you dare to reintroduce yourself in the mirror? Unleash your potential? Start a never-ending journey of joy and challenges?

Would you like to discover the meaning of: Think opening, act closing?

Come for answers, make all your questions, move ahead!

*Please note:

• This event is for IYP members only. A limited number of seats are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• each participant will be required to bring – in any form preferred (object/visuals/writing/idea..) – a representation of 2 of the following signs: ?, +, -, x, /, ˃, ˂, ®️.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to join this insightful webinar in collaboration with PwC that recently partnered with the World Economic Forum and released a report on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG).

Having experienced growing demands for ESG reporting from investors, China’s listed companies are becoming increasingly familiar with both the challenges and benefits of ESG reporting – so the question begs: are the current conditions suitable for a leapfrog moment in China?

In this webinar, in partnership with the Australian Chamber of Commerce, Dutch Chamber of Commerce, French Chamber of Commerce and Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, the aforementioned question will be tackled by speakers Sammie Leung and Loretta Fong.

Don’t miss out on this illuminating webinar!

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Loretta Fong, Government and Public Sector Leader, Hong Kong and Macau

Leveraging her strong international background, Loretta has extensive experience in providing accounting, audit and transaction advisory services to private and publicly listed entities in Hong Kong and the United States. She is currently the Chairman of the Audit & Assurance Standards Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), which helps drive local ESG assurance reporting guidance.

Sammie Leung, Climate and Sustainability Leader at PwC Mainland China and Hong Kong

Sammie Leung is the Leader of Climate and Sustainability practice in PwC Mainland China and Hong Kong. With a team of 100+ Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) professionals, the nationwide practice offers four key services: ESG Reporting, Green Finance, Climate Resilience and Transformation & Sustainability.

For the purpose of combatting tax evasion and protecting the integrity of tax systems, the Hong Kong Government implemented the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) in 2018. Following this initiative, a new global information-gathering and reporting requirement was conceived. In light of this, individuals from Italy who are currently residing in Hong Kong should pay more attention in order to manage their tax status effectively.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to join an informative webinar in collaboration with the Asian Tax Advisory. In this webinar, we will discuss the general requirements of tax residency in Hong Kong and Italy; the tie-breaker rule as provided under the Tax Treaty between Italy and Hong Kong as well as some useful tips in the event of tax fines and criminal sanctions.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mr. Marzio Morgante, Managing Director, Asian Tax Advisory

Marzio is a member of the Tax Consultants Register of Milan and of the Italian Register of Statutory Auditors and he has been practicing in Hong Kong since 2009 when he received an LL.M. in International Tax Law from Leiden University. His experience includes tax treaties, EC tax law, Italian tax law, Hong Kong tax law, corporate reorganizations, tax planning for corporations and individuals.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is honored to present: The Tiramisù Masterclass, a dedicated event within the project TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, organized as part of the campaign “The Extraordinary Italian Taste”. The campaign is promoted and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

TRUE ITALIAN TASTE is an initiative on an international scale whose objective is to raise awareness of the benefits derived from the use of authentic Italian agri-food products. In this regard, the project hopes to support makers of certified Italian products while showcasing the delectable qualities of Italian food.

Tiramisù is universally interpreted as the ultimate Italian sweet treat. Being an elegant dish with a rich blend of bold flavors including cocoa, espresso, mascarpone cheese and Marsala liquor, Tiramisù has become the most exported and emulated dessert. Yet, despite its recognition as an undisputed classic, the origins and the traditions surrounding the recipe are still immersed in the fog of the unknown.

On April 17th, during this special Masterclass, Chef Marcello Scognamiglio will articulate the dessert’s historical roots as well as provide an engaging live demonstration of the original recipe.

Through this exclusive Masterclass, guests will uncover the secrets behind this dessert and will also be given an exciting opportunity to win a Lavazza coffee machine by taking part in the Tiramisù social media challenge.

Learn more about the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE project at this link.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is glad to invite you to join the insightful webinar in collaboration with Fidinam. Fidinam is an expert in integrated and multidisciplinary consultancy. They are active in the fields of taxes and business services, where they offer comprehensive approaches to business operativity, granting high-quality as well as efficiency.

The pandemic has impacted people’s lives one way or another. Some corporates are reeling, while others are thriving under the ‘new normal’; all of these developments can work their way into your corporate or personal situation – so the question begs: how to declare your 2020 income and profits? We dive deeper into the profit, salaries as well as employers’ tax returns of 2020.

This event is co-hosted by our kind colleagues at the Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, the Finnish Chamber of Commerce and the Mexican Chamber of Commerce.

Join us today for this insightful webinar! Hope to see you there!

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Anne De Roulhac, Manager, French Desk at Fidinam Hong Kong Limited

Anne De Roulhac is Head of the French Desk at Fidinam (Hong Kong) Ltd. With more than 8 years of experience, Anne has acquired extensive knowledge in Corporate Advice, Legal Expertise and Business Development. Before joining Fidinam, she was in charge of Business Development and provided legal assistance in several Law firms in Sydney, Paris, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Master specialized in Tax and Business Law at Sorbonne University in France, Anne is fluent in English and Italian.

Yan Hong, Senior Tax Manager at Fidinam

Yan has over 20 years of professional experience in Hong Kong, including cross-border tax planning advisory, due diligence and dealing with the Inland Revenue Department on tax investigation cases, for both corporate and personal taxation. She is a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is pleased to invite you to be our guest and discover the versatile and timeless beauty of the latest Falconeri collection. On Thursday, April 8th, from 6 pm to 8 pm, Falconeri will be hosting a private sale at its store in Causeway Bay. Guests will have the chance to shop Italian knitwear and uncover the esteemed quality of the brand.

Our guests will have the chance to enjoy a 10% discount upon purchasing one of the items of the new collection and an exclusive 20% upon purchasing two products.

Please note that the participants are asked to wear a mask inside the stores during the event.

Falconeri, the fashion brand synonymous with superior cashmere, opens its first store in Causeway Bay. Introducing its curated collection for both men and women, this Italian cashmere brand spans the seasons with its ultralight and extremely fine knitwear, making it the ideal choice whatever the weather.

Made entirely in Italy, the brand started in 2000. In 2009 it joined the Calzedonia Group as its luxury line, allowing the brand to diversify its collection — historically geared towards men — and to introduce a comprehensive female collection.

RSVP now to secure your spot.

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

As Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund assets topped the HK$1 trillion mark and the average account balance per scheme member surpassed HK$240,000 in December 2020, we should pay more attention to managing our MPF assets effectively.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is glad to invite excellent speakers from Lockton Companies (Hong Kong) Limited; sharing insights into MPF assets management. In this webinar, we will discuss the investment returns of different funds in the MPF system and some useful tips that could help you manage your MPF accounts.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Freddie Lai, Assistance Vice President, Lockton Companies (Hong Kong) Limited

Freddie Lai has around 20 years of experience in the pension industry. Before joining Lockton, Freddie served as the MPF leader at Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT). Prior to JLT, he worked at Mercer Hong Kong in different roles including managing regional employee benefits in APAC, setting up multinational pooling and benefit programs and pension actuarial valuations. Prior to his experience in Hong Kong, Freddie was a pension actuary in the United States and Canada specialized in pension actuarial work for defined benefit plans. Freddie graduated from Georgia State University in the United States with a degree in Actuarial Science. He is an Associate of the Society of the Actuaries.

Jackie Chan, Senior Account Manager, Lockton Companies (Hong Kong) Limited

Jackie Chan is a seasoned professional in the pension industry. He began his career prior to the launch of Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Schemes in 2000. Before joining Lockton in 2013, Jackie had already acquired 14 years of experience working with a few top 10 MPF providers such as BOCI-Prudential, AXA China Region and The Bank of East Asia and is well-versed with ORSO interface, Macau Pension interface, MPF administration, operations and customer servicing.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support the 2021 edition of StartUp Initiative and BioInItaly Investment Forum organised by Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Cluster Spring and Assobiotec-Federchimica. The forum will take place on the 8th of April; broadcast worldwide through digital streaming at 3:00PM (UTC + 01:00).

Over the course of the day, startups selected by a panel of coaches and experts will present their projects on Red Biotech & Healthcare and Circular Bioeconomy to investors, corporations and players of the innovation ecosystem.

The webinar aims to provide international companies or investors with guidance on how to structure and negotiate the legal framework of M&A deals, navigate the regulatory landscape, and effectively manage tax risks of mergers and acquisitions.

Topics include:

• Cross-border M&A: the legal framework.
• Structure and negotiation of the deal.
• Private Equity acquisitions: a practical case.
• Acquisitions in the retail industry: our experience.
• Tax considerations and risks of mergers and acquisitions.

More details and registration are available on the Hawksford website, LinkedIn and WeChat.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is pleased to present: TRUE ITALIAN TASTE – The Pomodoro Masterclass, a dedicated event within the project TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, organized as part of the campaign “The Extraordinary Italian Taste”. The campaign is promoted and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by Assocamerestero in collaboration with the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

TRUE ITALIAN TASTE is part of a national campaign whose main goal is to promote awareness around the world and protect authentic and certified agri-food Italian products. In doing so, the project hopes to support makers of certified Italian products while showcasing the healthy qualities of Italian food.

Pomodoro is an essential element in Italian cuisine and the king of the Mediterranean diet. Being inviting, versatile, tasty and healthy, the popularity of tomatoes in the kitchen is spreading everywhere and it has become an iconic symbol of the Italian gastronomic scene.

On March 23rd, during the Masterclass, an expert nutritionist will take our guests on an extraordinary journey discovering 5 different varieties of authentic Italian tomatoes coming from different Italian regions.

Participants will learn through this exclusive Masterclass the secrets behind this superb ingredient – including its health-giving properties and the importance of recognizing the authenticity of the Italian Pomodoro.

Learn more about the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE project at this link.

In recent years, cross-border payments and foreign exchange have represented the new trend for financial technology. Online shopping, e-payment, online transfers, and digital banking services have gradually become part of our daily routines. For international businesses, the cost of overseas sales and payments has been very expensive, but now modern financial tools can make these operations much more efficient and cost-effective.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is glad to co-host with the German Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong this meaningful webinar in collaboration with Currenxie. Join us and learn how to set up a global e-commerce business for fast, affordable, and convenient payments in different markets.

Our expert, Sam Coyne, will provide effective methods to simplify the transactions and costs involved in online, cross-border commerce, using the latest financial technology.

Do not miss this opportunity to participate in this webinar and gain insightful views and useful information about global financial management from our speaker.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Sam Coyne, Chief Marketing Officer, Currenxie

Sam is the Chief Marketing Officer at Currenxie, a global neobank and fintech. A creative and commercially focused executive, he has hands-on experience building brands and executing practical marketing strategies for fast growth companies. He has spent over a decade in Asia in regional and global B2B roles in a variety of technology-focused industries. Prior to joining Currenxie he was a Vice President at OpenPort, a vc-backed technology startup. He holds a Masters degree in Business from UCC Ireland and NTU Singapore.

The Honourable Paul MP Chan, GBM, GBS, MH, JP, Financial Secretary, the Government of the HKSAR, will deliver his 2021-2022 Budget Speech to the Legislative Council on 24th February 2021.

Every year, the Hong Kong business community hosts a luncheon for hundreds of executives to hear the Financial Secretary elaborate on the details of his latest Budget. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year that is not possible. However, we are deeply honoured that Mr Chan has accepted our invitation to speak to the Hong Kong business community online on 12th March. Attendees will be able to hear Mr Chan discuss the Government’s plans to steer its fiscal policy and enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness. Not least, he will also discuss measures to help Hong Kong businesses cope with the extreme difficulties they are experiencing as the global economy struggles with this pandemic.

*Please note that this free webinar is exclusively for members only.

With Covid-19 having changed people’s perceptions about where they can live and work, many families are considering relocating either back to their country of origin, or to a new and more exotic destination.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is pleased to propose to you the webinar “International Mobility in a World of Covid-19 – European Opportunities and Points for Reflection” organized by Withers.

Whilst the United Kingdom and the United States remain popular destinations, certain European countries are increasingly presenting opportunities and incentives.

The speakers will explore the following:

• Residency options in Europe.
• Relevant tax and estate planning incentives in various European countries.
• Family law considerations include divorced/separated parents relocating with children.
• Nuptial Agreements and European marriage contracts.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Ugo Privitera, Registered foreign lawyer, Hong Kong

Ugo is a senior associate in the private client and tax team of the Hong Kong office at Withers and is a dual qualified English Solicitor and Italian lawyer (avvocato). He mainly advises clients on international succession, tax, trust and estate planning, investment structuring and probate as well as on complex cross-border inheritance matters with common law and civil law angles.

He is an expert in EU Regulations affecting private individuals, such as the Succession Regulation and the Matrimonial Property Regimes Regulations.

Ugo joined the London office of the firm in 2010 and, up to August 2014, worked with the UK Italian Desk on matters with a main Italian angle. As an avvocato, he built a significant expertise on investments in the Italian real estate market, tax and succession issues, corporate and commercial deals. He then focussed on private client and tax matters, and, as a solicitor, has acquired extensive international expertise in that area. He relocated to the Hong Kong office in March 2019.

Vanessa Duff (Mitchell), Senior Associate, Hong Kong 

Vanessa is a senior associate in the divorce and family team of the Hong Kong office at Withers.

Vanessa is qualified in England & Wales and Hong Kong, and she is a native French speaker.

She has over 12 years of experience in advising on all aspects of family law and issues which result from the breakdown of a relationship, including divorce, financial arrangements, and separation. She also advises clients in connection with disputes involving children, to include the financial aspects, issues relating to custody, care and control and access, as well as on applications for leave to remove a child from the jurisdiction.

Vanessa has particular expertise in dealing with cases which have an international perspective, with a particular interest in cases having a Hong Kong-European dimension and jurisdictional disputes. She has numerous relationships with foreign lawyers and is able to manage multi-country cases and rapidly source foreign advice where necessary.

By clicking the register button above, you submit your information to the webinar organiser, who will use it to communicate with you regarding this event and to send you relevant legal updates or event invitations. You can unsubscribe at any time from ongoing communications. To subscribe to other content that may be of interest, please click here to manage your preferences.

Hong Kong being a well-established international financial centre, the effective professional services and extensive financial foundation attract many multinational corporations migrating or establishing new businesses in Hong Kong. In particular, many corporations are interested to establish global or regional corporate treasury centres (“CTCs”) in Hong Kong.

In order to provide new job opportunities and attracting highly skilled people to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government has also offered tax concessions to attract companies to domicile their special business such as aircraft leasing, ship leasing, and captive insurance business in Hong Kong.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is glad to invite you to attend this webinar “Hong Kong Preferential Tax Regime Updates”. The purpose of this seminar is to provide insights on the preferential tax regimes in Hong Kong with the highlight on certain businesses namely CTCs, aircraft leasing, ship leasing, and captive insurances. EY would provide the details of the tax concessions and insights on the application of the relevant tax legislation on these businesses.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Wilson Cheng, Partner, Greater China Tax Controversy Co-Leader Hong Kong Tax Controversy Leader, EY

Wilson is the Tax Controversy Leader in Hong Kong as well as the Tax Controversy Co-Leader in Greater China, with more than 20 years of Hong Kong corporate tax controversy and advisory experiences. He provides a wide spectrum of tax controversy services to conglomerates, listed companies as well as the US and European-based multinational corporations.

He has extensive experiences in dealing with Hong Kong tax authorities, e.g. assisting corporations in settling pro-longed tax disputes on contentious tax issues in Hong Kong such as offshore claim lodged by multinational corporations, capital gain claim on real estate properties, tax audit, and investigation on small-medium enterprises. More recently, he assisted clients to lodge an appeal to the Board of Review for controversial Hong Kong tax matters. His other tax experiences include group structure rationalization, cross-border transaction planning, IPO review, and restructuring.

While focusing on retail and consumer product as well as real estate, hospitality, and construction industry sectors, Wilson also has diverse industry experiences, including technology, entertainment, media, and telecommunications sectors.

Wilson regularly contributes tax technical articles to newspapers and technical journals and is a frequent speaker at tax seminars organized by various professional bodies in Hong Kong. He also serves as the Committee Member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Hong Kong from 2018/19 onwards and is the co-chairman of the taxation sub-committee of ACCA Hong Kong. From 2012/13 to 2015/16, he was the Council Member of the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong and was the founding organizer of the CTA Conference in Hong Kong.

Thomas Lee, Senior Manager, Business Tax Services, EY

Thomas has extensive experience in tax advisory on group structure rationalization and restructuring, pre-acquisition, pre-IPO review, offshore profits claim, applying Tax Residency Certificates, handling various enquiries from the Hong Kong Inland Revenue as well as negotiation and conclusion of compromised settlement proposal with the Hong Kong Inland Revenue.

Specifically, some notable projects Thomas has advised on include:

• Partnering with the transfer pricing, international tax, and law teams advising on corporate amalgamations, business transfer, development of supply chain strategies, transfer pricing, offshore profits claim, application of tax treaty benefits, all the way down to implementation, reporting, and compliance.
• Concluding compromised settlement proposals with the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department, identifying valid arguments supported by precedent cases and the department’s prevailing practice.

Thomas has diverse industry experience, including technology and telecommunication, construction and infrastructure, diversified industrial products, retail and consumer products, real estate, etc.

He is dedicated to helping clients achieve business success by providing business taxation advisory service that meets each client’s unique objectives.

Vincent Tse, Senior Manager, Business Tax Services, EY

Vincent has more than 10 years of professional experience in the taxation field and is currently a Tax Senior Manager in EY Hong Kong.

He is responsible for providing tax consultancy and compliance services to multi-national and local companies, particularly those in the industries of luxury goods, food, property development, retail, energy, manufacturing, and logistics.

He has extensive experience in Hong Kong and regional tax advisory assignments including corporate restructuring, pre-IPO planning, tax health checks, tax due diligence, and dispute resolution.

In addition to advising clients on corporate tax matters, Vincent also supports clients in all aspects of a legal entity’s lifecycle, including entity creation, compliance, management of corporate changes, governance, and dissolution, with the objective of helping clients achieve compliance and best practice around corporate governance.

Vincent advised a wide array of international and local corporations on matters in relation to the appropriate forms of setups, corporate reorganizations, stamp duty filing, and exemption applications or statutory compliance and reporting, etc.

Organized in collaboration with Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide and The Executive Centre, The Italian Chamber of Commerce is glad to present the open discussion – Hybrid Talk: Empowered Women Empower Women – in the conclusion of the social campaign promoted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

On Monday, March 8th, join us on this meaningful discussion.

Speakers from various industries will share their life experiences through an intriguing open conversation. Our guests will have a chance to gain more insights into the significance of being a woman in today’s age.

The event will conclude with an open Q&A session between the audience and our guests.

Please note that a limited number of physical guests will be allowed to participate in this event.

Book your ticket and reserve your spot!

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Chelsea Perino, Managing Director, Global Marketing & Communications, The Executive Centre

With an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Linguistics from NYU and after a four-year solo trip around the world, Chelsea Perino first discovered her love for advertising in Cape Town, South Africa.

Now based in Hong Kong, Chelsea is the Managing Director, Global Marketing & Communications at The Executive Centre, Asia’s leading premium flexible workspace provider.

Chelsea is passionate about organizational culture and believes that creating a dynamic and collaborative working experience positively affects team morale, productivity, and fosters community. Through a newly developed global marketing strategy and complete re-brand, her goal is to establish The Executive Centre as the leader in workspace experience, community, and corporate-culture facilitation.

Selma Masood, Principal, SM & Co Solicitors

Selma is the Principal of SM & Co Solicitors. She was born and raised in Hong Kong and comes from a mixed background, with her mum from Hong Kong and her late father, from Iran. Selma qualified as a Solicitor in Hong Kong in 2006 and in early May 2016, she set up SM & Co Solicitors, which is in association with international Italian law firm Gianni & Origoni, which has a dedicated Hong Kong branch.

She graduated from the University of Manchester with a Bachelor of Music Degree and Bachelor of Law Degree, as well as the University of Hong Kong for the Post Graduate Certificate of Laws.

Selma’s motto of success is ‘I never dreamed about success. I worked for it’.

Ines Gafsi, Co-Founder of Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide

Ines leads FEW international developments, strategic partnerships and sponsorships, and special programs like Inspiring Girls Hong Kong.

As a collaborative leader, Ines’s passion is in bringing together established businesses and startups, enabling greater female empowerment and impact. The team assists those with potential and those failing to reach their potential to overcome barriers and grow their business to the next level.

Ines enjoys dynamic environments, connecting with people, and making things happen. She has served as a speaker at the SCMP’s Game Changers, AmCham Women of Influence awards and voted “Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong” by Hong Kong Tatler.

Elvie Lahournere, Director, Digital & Innovation, Asia Pacific at Natixis

Elvie is Director, Digital & Innovation, Asia Pacific at Natixis as part of the bank’s move towards digitalization in the pursuit of creating high value-added solutions for its clients. In this role, Elvie is responsible for promoting and facilitating the Digital and Innovation Strategy across the APAC platform and the bank globally.

Elvie also developed her deep knowledge and network within the technology landscape in China as the co-founder and vice president of French Tech Hong Kong Shenzhen and Beijing.

After 15 years of experience across Asia and Europe, with expertise in operational, and strategy development across different industries, Elvie has held senior roles with several technologies and strategy businesses based in China such as Alten, Airbus, and most recently Roland Berger.

Elvie Lahournere holds an MSc Mechanical and Engineering and an Executive MBA from Insead – Tsinghua University. In a spare time, she loves supporting Nonprofit girls’ education in Hong Kong and is deeply involved in tech for good different groups in Asia.

MODERATOR

Dr. Esterina Nervino, Director of Retail in Asia, Bluebell (Asia) Ltd. Esterina is currently the Director of Retail in Asia (part of Bluebell) and is in charge of the media brand operations including content selection, curation, edition, and media strategy. Additionally, she is involved in communication and ESG projects for the group. She is also Chairman of the Retail Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Women’s Leadership Network of The Italian Chamber of Commerce. She holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where she is a member of the Research Centre for Professional Communication in English. Her research interests include luxury and art, luxury and space, luxury and ESG, country of origin effect and language use, retail experience, intercultural communication.

Surprised by the COVID-19 Pandemic, many companies and professionals have been forced to work remotely at home. The ongoing trend to put people at the center of companies’ focus will be largely influencing the concepts and design of office spaces and new workspaces.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao and the Innovation and Technology Working Group (I&TWG) of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce is glad to propose to you the webinar “Sensors in the workplace – Employees wellbeing for productivity and retention” dedicated to exploring some technological applications into this domain sharing experiences of different speakers.

The webinar is tailored for a diverse audience of International Large and SMEs Corporate C-levels (e.g., CEOs, CTOs, COO, etc.) and Senior Managers in different functional areas, including Production, Business Development, Human Resources, ICT, Product/Service Developments, Sales and After-Sales.

Program:

• 17:00 Welcome Speech and Introduction I&TWG program for 2021 – Gianluca Giorgi I&T WG Coordinator and Founder of ES Automation Consultants LTD.
• 17:05 The future workplace; Trends for technological applications and introduction of the two case studies for the Webinar – Rosanna Terminio, AsecorpChina Business Consulting, and PhD Candidate UOC.
• 17:15 Case study 1: Air Quality in the Workplace: Health, Efficiency, and Comfort – Luciano Marzaro, Managing Director, Carel China.
• 17:30 Case study 2: Lighting for Wellbeing in Office Spaces – Luca Tarsetti, APAC Regional Director, iGuzzini.
• 17:45 Q&A and closing – Rosanna Terminio.

2020 has been one of a very dynamic year ranging from the first year in the new China annual reconciliation filing and application for Greater Bay Area (“GBA”) individual income tax (“IIT”) financial subsidy, to complex tax and deployment issues arising from remote working and travel disruption.

Individual taxpayers and withholding agents in China have been facing challenges brought by major adjustments in policies and practical implementation under the China IIT reform, and the 2019 annual reconciliation filing has marked a perfect completion to the first year of this reform.

Similarly, taxpayers in Hong Kong have been facing challenges brought by changes in tax rules and practices. From the year 2018/19 onwards, double taxation triggered by working in a double tax treaty counterpart of Hong Kong would no longer be mitigated by the unilateral tax relief under Section 8(1A)(c) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Instead, a foreign tax credit (“FTC”) could be claimed if the taxpayers qualify as a Hong Kong tax resident – yet the adverse impact on holdover of provisional tax would arise due to limitation in tax rule.

Furthermore, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the issues on tax residence status, unexpected double taxation, and demand for change in benefit policies, and tax equalization policy for talent retention and policy competitiveness have been caused.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce has invited PwC experts to share their insights and recommendation on how enterprises and individuals could better manage the above challenges.

Topics to be covered include:

• Recap and experience sharing of the first China annual reconciliation filing for IIT.
• Updates on China IIT incentive in the Greater Bay Area.
• Challenges in foreign tax credit claim and impact on holdover application.
• The requirements and the recent trend of applying for a Hong Kong certificate of resident status.
• The IRD’s view on certain salary tax issues shared by the IRD and the HKICPA.
• Tax and HR policies impact due to unplanned travels, the extension of stays, and remote working patterns.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Louis Lam, Partner, Global Mobility Services, PwC Hong Kong

Louis is the China-South Leader of Global Mobility Services with over 20 years of experience specializing in Hong Kong / China cross border individual tax consulting and compliance. He advises clients in drafting company policy and employment terms covering housing benefits, remuneration package structuring, tax equalization, termination package, and talent mobility policy; negotiate and manage tax audit and penalty; cross border social security planning, etc.

Louis has extensive experience advising overseas, China and Hong Kong clients in private equity and asset management industries, and leading global financial institutions, to design and enhance pre-/post-IPO employee share-based compensation schemes, carried interest plans, and co-investment plans, with a holistic approach to cover talent mobility and retention, market trend, tax, foreign exchange, finance, legal, etc.

He is a Certified Tax Adviser (Hong Kong), and members of the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong (TIHK), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA).

Victor Yuen, Senior Manager, Global Mobility Services, PwC Hong Kong

Victor Yuen is a Senior Manager in Global Mobility Services. Victor is responsible for providing Hong Kong and China individual tax consulting and compliance services for international and local companies. Victor has more than 10 years of experience and he serves companies in different industries, including leading global financial institutions.

Victor is involved in various individual tax consulting projects, including assisting clients in drafting mobility policy and tax equalization policy to support mobility employees.

Victor is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Sourcing opportunities are top of mind in Hong Kong as supply chains around the world grow more complex and get disrupted in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

InvestHK and KPMG have jointly prepared the Future of Sourcing: 2021 and beyond research report, which draws on the insights of industry experts to examine the current state of the sourcing industry and the future of supply chains across China and the rest of Asia.

We hear about the need for resilience and agility in this changing world with increasingly more complex supply chains. We ask three key questions: Where to play? How to win? And what to do?

You will hear from Andrea Bontempi (KPMG Italy), Anson Bailey (KPMG China), Angelica Leung (InvestHK), and industry representatives, Christian Foddis, President, Asia Pacific at Ermenegildo Zegna (Hong Kong) Limited and the President of Federmacchine, with regards to Hong Kong’s consumer evolution and how technology and innovation are going to play a more significant role in the future.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce and its Industrial Committee invite you to attend this webinar to listen, learn and ask questions as our speakers navigate this new normal with those emerging future digital supply chains.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Angelica Leung, Head of Consumer Products, Invest Hong Kong

Angelica has over a decade of experience in foreign direct investment. Her current focus is on facilitating investment from companies in retail or sourcing of toys, cosmetics, jewelry, home furnishings, fashion, electronic appliances and most recently extending to retail technology. Since 2013, the Consumer Products team has assisted nearly 300 companies to set up or expand in Hong Kong.

Prior to joining InvestHK, Angelica’s career experience spans aviation, strategic design consultancy, and market research for fast moving consumer goods. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Hong Kong, and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Anson Bailey, Head of Technology, Media & Telecoms, Hong Kong, Head of Consumer & Retail, ASPAC, KPMG

Anson joined KPMG in Hong Kong in 1999 and is currently a Partner based in the Hong Kong office heading up the Consumer & Retail Practice in the ASPAC region. He is part of the KPMG Global Consumer & Retail Steering Group as well as being a member of the Global Technology Innovation Centre and the Cluster Leader for the Technology, Media & Telecoms Practice based in Hong Kong.

Anson has been active in driving a number of thought leadership reports and executive briefings for senior executives covering innovation and consumers in China and across Asia. He has worked with many corporates to understand the complex markets we live in and current levels of disruption being seen with recent reports including Global Mobile Payments, Consumers & Convergence, Mobilizing Innovation: The Changing Landscape of Disruptive Technologies, The Rise of the Digital Multi-tasker, Be a Smarter Start-up, MNCs in China, Made in China 2025, China’s Connected Consumers, Global Connected Consumers, Connecting Hong Kong – Perspectives on our future as a smart city, Connected Cities – insights across the ASPAC region and The Changing Face of Commerce series.

Christian Foddis, President, Asia Pacific – Ermenegildo Zegna (Hong Kong) Limited

Christian joined Ermenegildo Zegna Group as President of Asia Pacific – Greater China, Korea, Oceania, Japan and SEA in 2020. His previous professional experience comes from over 20 years of international experience serving most recently with Salvatore Ferragamo as Chief Executive Officer ASIA. Prior to that Christian has held roles in Valentino Fashion Group as Asia MD and Marzotto Group in Europe.

Over the years, Christian has led and managed a variety of Brands ranging from Casualwear, Premium and Luxury combining both commercial acumen with a rich intimate understanding of the Asian and European markets.

Born in Rome, Italy, Christian holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from KWG St.Gallen, Switzerland and a Master’s degree in Sociology – Business Administration and Organizations from “La Sapienza” University Rome. Christian currently serves as BOD member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong & Macao where he has served as Vice-Chairman for several years. Christian is a strong advocate of continuous learning and has participated in a number programs from Insead to the London Business School. He is an active member of YPO (Young President Organization), a leading lifelong learning organization, where he serves as Pan Asia Chapter Membership Engagement Officer and on the Regional Board as Vice-Learning and Network Officer.

Christian speaks Italian, English, German and French. He is married, has one daughter, and they have resided in Hong Kong since 2004. In his free time Christian loves to ride his (noisy) bike, listening to (very) loud music, enjoying contemporary art, playing golf and supporting various Charities. He is an active member of Rotary.

Christian’s motto is “treasure imperfection”.

Andrea Bontempi, Partner, KPMG Advisory, KPMG in Italy

Andrea has more than 12 Years as KPMG Partner and a previous similar position in different networks with experience in management consulting. He has a strong experience in management accounting and supply chain projects gained in different business contexts. He has often been involved in the National Business Community in Public speech and in teaching activities for at least 5 academic years each.

Andrea has gained significant experience in managing complex multidisciplinary projects at global clients throughout the entire project lifecycle. During such experiences, he managed the assessment phase, the Target Operating Model design, and implementation both at the strategic and operational level managing the process and the ICT enablers.

Giuseppe Lesce, President of Federmacchine Cinisello Balsamo (Milano) – Italy, Director of Public Affairs, SACMI IMOLA SC, Imola (Bologna) – Italy

Giuseppe has over 20 years of managing experience in the Machinery Goods Industry. From 1988 Giuseppe has worked in SACMI, a leading player in manufacturing machines and complete lines for several business sectors: ceramics (in all its forms), packaging, beverage, food processing.

Since 2019, Giuseppe has been appointed as Director of Public Affairs, reporting to Group Managing Director. In addition to this, Giuseppe is also responsible for the trademarks and patents.

In addition to this, Giuseppe also holds, since 2019, the position of President of Federmacchine, the National Federation of the Italian Associations of capital goods Manufacturers, representing a total turnover of almost 50 billion euros in 2019, with an export rate close to 70%.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is honored to announce the 1st edition of “Revealing the Secrets of Entice Jewellery”.

The exclusive showcase turns into an opportunity to discover the uniqueness of the gems of the KGK Group. From the mining through the cutting and polishing of the gemstones to the wax-crafting and gem-setting processes employed by the expert jewelry artisans, the history of these splendid pieces of craftsmanship will have no more secrets to hide from our guests, who will enjoy an all-rounded experience and will appreciate the enduring beauty of said jewels.

Join us on Thursday, January 28th at the dazzling Entice Showroom in Hung Hom to try on a range of exquisite pieces of jewels of outstanding value.

For this first-ever exclusive edition, only a limited number of seats will be available.

*Please note that all the upcoming Chamber events will be subject to the latest Hong Kong Government safety and social distancing measures. We will keep our guests updated about the final arrangements following the indicated guidelines. Thank you for your kind understanding.

The shipping industry has been facing different challenges in the recent period and numerous others are materializing for the upcoming future. As logistics is a crucial aspect for the supply chain management, being able to direct and influence cargo shipping, products movements and consumer demand could hold the balance of power in the current, increasingly complex, sourcing and transport sector.

A deep knowledge of supply chains and logistic industry is the cornerstone of the management of raw materials’s flow, competitiveness, and the assurance that the finished products will provide value to the consumer.

During the course of this seminar, our experts from APC and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company will analyze the recent changes in the logistic industry regarding the shipping flow, with particular focus on the trade transitioning and departing from Hong Kong.

Our guests will have the opportunity to learn from the key players in the logistic sector about the latest development and the prime challenges in the supply industry to achieve a better understanding on which are the best practices to apply to reach the competitive advantage in such a complex sector.

Join us on Wednesday 27th January, take part in this webinar and do not miss the chance to learn about the useful updates and insightful thoughts of our skilled panelists!

Philip Cheng – General Manager, Trade, Sales and Corporate Account, Export Department, HK, SPRC, Taiwan, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

Philip has been the General Manager of Trade and Sales for MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company in Hong Kong since 2010.

Philip has over 25 years of extensive experience in shipping. He started his career in the transport and logistics industry with Jardine freight service as a sales trainee in 1995. Subsequently, he joined Norasia and Hanjin Senator where he worked in commercial roles spanning different regions.

In 2002, he joined MSC in Hong Kong as an Assistant Sales Manager focusing on the Europe and Mediterranean trades. As the General Manager of Trade and Sales, he currently oversees the export trades from Hong Kong, South China and Taiwan to worldwide destinations.

Philip holds a Master’s degree from the Macquarie University in Australia with a focus on marketing management.

Aldo Soprani – Group CEO, APC Asia Pacific Cargo

Italian born in Milan, spent almost his entire career in Logistics and Freight Forwarding. Moved to Asia 20 years ago, based in Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore and since 6 years in Hong Kong. Heads a small multinational company owned by a Japanese logistics giant. APC Logistics is based in Hong Kong with branches in Greater China, Europe and South-East Asia. The company is specialized in Freight Forwarding, E-Commerce fulfilment, Railfreight and Logistics value added services.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao and the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with RsA – Asia Tax Advisors are glad to present the Webinar Asia-Pacific A to Z: Discover Every Market of the Fastest-growing Region with the focal point on the geo-economic relationships of Asia and the Pacific Regions.

Participants will be guided through a detailed analysis of who are the key players of every region and their peculiar features with respect to their market of reference: Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

The RsA’s expert Lorenzo Riccardi will follow the discussion with an excursus on the different regional economic partnerships in force at present, with the aim of understanding the trade agreements in effect, among which the Free Trade Agreements, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the new Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Lorenzo Riccardi, Managing Partner of RsA Asia

Lorenzo has taught taxation at Xian Jiao Tong Liverpool University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong, Tongji University, and Hult Business School. Tax Advisor and Certified Public Accountant specialized in international taxation at IBFD Kuala Lumpur, PhD researcher in Asian tax at Shanghai University. He is based in Shanghai, where he focuses on business and tax law, assisting foreign investments in China and East Asia. He is an auditor and an advisor for several corporate groups and he is partner and Head of Tax of the consulting firm RSA, specializing in Asia and emerging countries.

2020 has been a year of change for many people and companies. One of the biggest changes in the workforce is the ability to work remotely. While working remotely can provide for greater flexibility, it has also brought about more challenges in managing a workforce.

Employees are no longer confined to a fixed office but have also pushed the boundaries of whether it is needed to be in the same city, let alone the same country. These work arrangements under this ‘new normal’ have created huge obstacles for HR professionals when tackling issues of employment tax, immigration, and other HR-related concerns.

Join our webinar and uncover these challenges with our experienced PwC professionals!

During the webinar PwC experts will cover the following topics:

• Overview of the impact of travel restrictions on employers and employees
• Case studies on immigration issues faced by employers in a typical life cycle of employment and practical suggestions to enhance compliance
• Impact on 2020/21 Hong Kong employers’ and employees’ tax reporting requirements in respect of employees who need to extend their stay in Hong Kong or overseas due to the current pandemic
• Hong Kong salaries tax implications on specific payments or benefits made to employees due to current circumstances
• Common pitfalls we have seen in employer’s reporting filings

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Bruce Lee – Partner, Global Mobility Services, PwC Hong Kong

Bruce is a Partner in Global Mobility Services in Hong Kong with over 20 years of experience in providing professional services to both employers and employees focusing on cross-border assignments.  He leads the immigration practice in Hong Kong and provides advisory services for clients in relation to work visa applications, Hong Kong and U.S. individual income tax matters, and other mobility-related issues.  Bruce also advises and develops practical solutions for clients relative to employment and remuneration structures (e.g. equity-based incentive plans, housing reimbursement schemes, etc.).    In addition, Bruce assists various international and regional financial institutions in complying with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s requirements on sound remuneration systems and recommend enhancements to streamline HR operations.

Bruce is a Certified Tax Adviser and a member of the Hong Kong Taxation Institute.  Bruce also is a U.S. Certified Public Accountant.  He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Hass School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley with the highest honor.  He also obtained his Master in International and Commercial Law from the University of Greenwich.

Alissa Lau – Senior Manager, Global Mobility Services, PwC Hong Kong

Alissa has many years of experience in the tax profession and specialises in Hong Kong individual tax affairs for inbound and outbound assignees and handling cross border issues.  Alissa is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  Her current clients include numerous large corporations in the non-financial and financial sectors.  Alissa has extensive experience in assisting companies in designing tax equalisation policies, advising on equity, compensation, and benefits issues, assisting clients with examinations by the Hong Kong tax authority and individual tax dispute.

Molly Ho – Manager, Global Mobility Services, PwC Hong Kong

Molly is a Manager in PwC Hong Kong.  She has over 15 years of experience in the immigration industry, with an initial focus on assisting individuals migrating from Hong Kong to Canada.  She is experienced in providing inbound immigration services and advice to individuals and corporate clients on various types of applications, to ensure compliance with the Hong Kong immigration policy.  She has worked with clients from a wide range of industries including legal, recruitment, entertainment, information technology, investment banking and financial services, consumer products, and construction.  She is also experienced in providing immigration advice to newly set-up companies in Hong Kong.

Molly holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Economics from Amherst College in Massachusetts, the United States.