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 is pleased to invite you to the Giuseppe Zanotti – Fall/ Winter 2021 VIP Private Viewing on Thursday, 7 October, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Enjoy the exclusive shopping discount at the newly opened Lee Garden One shop, RSVP now to secure your spot. *Please note that only registered guests will be admitted to the event, all guests 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 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.

Interested parties who cannot attend the event in person might purchase the Live Stream Pass here.

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. 

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

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.

This is an Italia Mia event.

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.

For more information on the workshop, please click here.

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 guests will be seated in groups of four 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.

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.

  ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

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.

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

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.

Join us for this informative webinar.   ABOUT THE SPEAKER

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.

  ABOUT THE MODERATOR 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.

  ABOUT THE MODERATOR 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.

    ABOUT THE SPEAKERS 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.

Don’t miss out! Join us for this insightful webinar.   ABOUT THE SPEAKERS 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.

  ABOUT THE SPEAKERS   For the event rundown, please click here. For more directions on the event venue, please click here.   DISCLAIMER:

• 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.

  ABOUT THE MODERATOR 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.

DISCLAIMER:

• 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.

Mr Dario Marotta, Associate at Hawksford, China

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.

Mr Matthew Warr, Legal Consultant at Zhong Lun Law Firm

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.

Don’t miss out, and join this informative webinar!  

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.

Please find more information on the agenda here To register, click here

The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Hawksford are glad to propose to you the webinar “How to Structure M&A Deals in China” with Zhong Lun Law Firm, Law Firm of the Year and China Business Awards Winner in 2020.

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

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!

  ABOUT THE SPEAKERS 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.

AFF is the Asian premier platform for global leaders in government, finance, and business to exchange insights, intelligence as well as business and investment opportunities. More than 3,500 C-suite financial and business leaders gathered at AFF 2020 for thought leadership and business networking, as well as to experience the latest fintech innovations and next-generation business ideas.

In the forum, the AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session connects sources of funds with sources of deals from around the world via one-to-one meetings based on their shared areas of interest. Over the years, 5,800+ meetings have been arranged for 3,500+ companies, including investment project owners, private equity firms, investors, high-net-worth individuals, and senior professionals from intermediaries and professional services providers.

In addition, the Fintech Showcase, FintechHK Startup Salon, and InnoVenture Salon, featuring a plethora of financial innovations, cutting-edge solutions, and ground-breaking business ideas from financial institutions, technology firms, and startups worldwide, are staged to empower entrepreneurs and connect them with potential investors and mentors.

For more information, you can find the agenda here.

Click on the following link and use the code “CCG05F” to get tickets for the special prize of 780HKD.*

*Offer is valid until January 8th, 2021.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Bank Julius Baer, is glad to invite you to the first webinar of 2021.

The final year of the last decade will go down in history as an unforgettable one, for reasons bad as well as good. The bad is painfully obvious, the good takes optimism and faith in human adaptability, resilience, and compassion in order to appreciate.

Barring any unexpected meltdown in the final fortnight of 2020, the financial markets rollercoaster will likely end the year on a high note with most major markets in flat or positive territory. Such a scenario would have been unimaginable in the earlier half of the year.

With vaccine rollouts expected over the next 12 to 18 months, what can we expect of financial markets? Will focusing on growth as an investment style continue to maintain their lead over value-investing, or are we in for an aggressive rotation ahead?

Beyond simply 2021, tectonic geopolitical shifts (e.g. US-Sino polarity), unorthodox macro policies, increasing focus on sustainability, and continued acceleration of digitalization are trends that will leave indelible marks on the next decade. What are the implications of those trends on investment strategy?

Join us on January 11th to get an insightful view from the experts at Bank Julius Baer.

    ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Mark Matthews, Head Research at Bank Julius Baer Mark Matthews is currently Head of ResearchAPACfor Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., an appointment he has held since June 2011. His research coverage comprises a single stock, sector, and select country analysis.In addition, he is a member of the Bank’sinvestment committee, which determines asset allocation recommendations to clients. Mark has a wealth of experience in advising private clients and institutional investors throughhis27-year banking and finance career. He has held senior positions managing the research and equity sales functions at financial institutions, including ING Barings Securities, Standard & Poor’s, and Merrill Lynchin Asia. Currently based in Singapore, he has lived and worked in Asia for most of his life, including in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan. He is often quoted in the media and invited regularly by CNBC Asia and Bloomberg TV to appear on their programs. Mark holds a Master of Business Administration (Finance Major) from the Schulich School of Business, YorkUniversity and a Bachelor of Arts (History Major) from Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada. He is fluent in French and Chinese.   Wen Han Choy, Executive Director, Private Banking International at Bank Julius Baer Wen Han has been a private banker for over 15 years, first with UBS AG and now with Bank Julius Baer in Singapore.  Prior to banking, he worked for Singapore Economic Development Board from 2003 to 2006, promoting Singapore as an investment destination for foreign direct investment. Wen Han holds a MSc degree in Real Estate from the National University of Singapore (NUS), a BSc in Chemical Engineering, and BA in French Commercial Studies from the University of Illinois, USA.  Being fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese, Wen Han has been appreciated as an effective bridge for European high-net worth individuals and family offices who invest in Asia and vice versa.  

The festive season is rapidly approaching and the holiday feeling is already in the air. To many, it means warm and cozy evenings and spending time with your loved ones.

At Tablo‘s, the month of December is dedicated to the Family & Friends Sale, with special openings from 10 am to 8 pm on the 4th, 5th, 18th, and 19th of December.

Join us on December 18th, the showroom is collaborating with the Italian Chamber of Commerce for a cheery shopping experience.

Come discover Tablo’s unique and passionate approach to tableware and kitchenware products and enjoy up to a 50% discount on selected items.

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.

LA PERLA is delighted to invite The Italian Chamber of Commerce Members to discover the new seasonal products of the Maison LA PERLA.

On Thursday, December 17th, join us at LA PERLA store at Pacific Place, and discover the “Maison Contouring” and “Tree of Life”, two treasured collections made with Italian silk and tulle. These irresistible collections are a true expression of luxurious quality and are a comfortable alternative for a harmonious look!

Enjoy the best lingerie shopping experience and receive an exclusive voucher of HKD500 upon every HKD5,000 purchase. **During the event you will receive a complimentary gift of a LA PERLA silk-made eye mask.

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. 

**T&C apply

Please note that this event will be held in Italian and in Mandarin only.

 

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao, the Italian Embassy in Beijing, the Italian Trade Agency, and the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC) are glad to present the China-Italy Business Dialogue: Quality as the Growth Engine for the Business Development that will take place on December 11^th and on December 12^th.

On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Bilateral Diplomatic Relations between the People’s Republic of China and Italy, the aim of the event is to create an occasion of dialogue and exchange between the business communities of Italy and China.

 

On December 11^th Italian and Chinese institutions will engage with many eminent businesses’ representatives from both countries and will cover the following topics:

• The opportunities in the Chinese, the domestic market for the industries in the quality retail sector
• Innovation and technology in the mechanical sector to increase the collaboration with local businesses
• The Energy Transition in China: trends and opportunities of business for industries in the manufacturing and services sectors
• China-Italy Export Deal: tools to support the Italian industries

On December 12^th, the main focus will be on the “Italian System”.

Institutions and companies will engage with the CICC’s Working Groups to discuss priorities and initiatives to support business in different sectors and to develop an interchange about contents and actions to implement.

 

To read the detailed agenda, please click here.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is delighted to invite you for an exclusive shopping night at Calzedonia and Intimissimi stores in Central.

Join us on December 10th  and find the perfect Christmas gift by Intimissimi – the Must-Have Italian lingerie brand, and by Calzedonia – the most well-known Italian legwear label!

Our guests will enjoy an incredible discount of 20% on all regular-priced items and an exclusive Pre-sale Offer of 50% off on selected items in both stores.

Upon purchase in both stores, you will receive a set of amazing presents:

• Intimissimi large tote bag
• Calzedonia special panda socks

RSVP now to enjoy this wonderful offer on your favorite Italian brands!

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

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

As the digital transition has largely spread in almost every industry, data management and cybersecurity have attracted the interests of regulators across the globe.

In this webinar, our experts from Deacons law firm will cover the evolution and recent interpretations from authorities of China’s Data Protection and Cybersecurity regulations. Panelists from Control Risks and 7Cento HK will outline risks faced by businesses that operate under the new legislation in China as well as the basics of data protection and infrastructure security from a tech perspective.

This seminar will highlight the different kinds of risks a company is facing while operating in China, and will guide the attendees through the process of identifying the different digital vulnerabilities, monitor endpoints, and secure the company’s cyber perimeters.

Our guests will learn about the risks of managing the digital sovereignty in China and take in the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent data breaches and leaks, on discerning valuable data and how to properly store it.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

 

Neal Beatty – Partner & General Manager, Control Risks, Hong Kong & South China 

Neal Beatty is a Partner and General Manager of Control Risks’ Hong Kong office. In this role, he is responsible for client relationships in Hong Kong, developing new business with multinational clients, and advising on areas of business risk that impact their operations in Hong Kong, Greater China, and the Asia Pacific region. Neal is also Chair of the China Committee at the British Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong. Before moving to Hong Kong Neal was based in Control Risks’ Shanghai office. During that time, he was the Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai (April 2013 – May 2015)) and has spent most of the last 25 years living and working in Greater China. Before joining Control Risks, Neal worked as head of security in China for a large US financial institution, based in Beijing. Prior to this, Neal worked in Shanghai as a manager for a risk management consulting firm and in Taiwan for the Swiss group Société Générale de Surveillance. Neal holds a Master’s degree in Chinese Studies from the University of Leeds and a BSc in chemistry from Warwick University, both in the UK.

 

Alessandra Lombardi – Business Development Manager, 7Cento HK Limited

Alessandra leads the business development activities for 7Cento HK in Hong Kong and East Asia and co-operates with the company’s cybersecurity analysts team for alerts investigation in Italy. Before joining 7Cento HK, Alessandra has been in charge of digital marketing, CRM development, and fintech projects. In 2017, she graduated in Information Systems Management at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

 

Catherine Zheng – Partner of China IP Group, Head of Patents & Designs, Deacons

Catherine is triple qualified in Canada, New York, and Hong Kong. She is a native Chinese from Shanghai where she studied law at Fudan University. She holds an LLB degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University in Canada, and a Bachelor of Science degree (Hons) in chemistry from Dalhousie University, Canada.

Catherine is a co-chair of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association and a Committee Member of The International Trademark Association and Asian Patent Attorneys Association.

Please note that this event has been postponed. The new date will be announced soon.

The chilly season is already here!

Italian artisan skills, innovative production system, and the finest natural fibers: this is what characterizes Falconeri‘s knitwear and cashmere clothing.

On December 7th, come enjoy the amazing offer on the warm wool, soft cashmere, and other refined yarns pieces:

• Buy 1 item, get 10% off
• Buy 2 items or more, get 20% off

Choose the Italian quality and the timeless beauty of Falconeri’s cashmere and knitwear collections.

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.

It is almost a decade that we hear about the impact of new technologies in our way of working and in what is called “human-augmentation” which is how our physical and mental abilities can be further enhanced through technological devices. Though, resistance to change and other dilemmas in the organization stopped this revolution from happening since the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

As for remote working, many companies have accelerated to adapt to the use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to ensure business continuity, as for technical teams is complicated to travel in different global sites for installation of new production lines, upgrade of existing lines, or maintenance and assistance during the pandemic.

Forced by this background, many companies have already realized that this is not just contingent but it will last as a new way of working, improved in speed and efficiency while contributing to reducing companies’ carbon footprint.

 

This webinar is part of a digital journey promoted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, and I&T WG with the purpose of introducing all members of the Chambers to new technologies through theoretical contents and practical demonstration to improve companies’ performance and to generate cross-innovation and collaboration between the members.

The webinar is tailored for a diverse audience of Multinational, Big, 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.

 

It will cover the following topics:

• Automation and Work- Brief introduction of this new trend
• The main differences between AR and VR
• Case Studies of practical applications of this technology, with a focus on reasons to adopt it, and how it benefited the companies and their customers.

MODERATORS

• Maria Santonastaso, General Manager, Dedalus S.p.A. – China
• Ivan D’Onghia, CTO Digital/Robotics, Danieli Tongchuang Information Technology

SPEAKERS

• Rosanna Terminio, Managing Partner of AsecorpChina Business Consulting and PhD Candidate at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)
• Cristian Sala, Executive Sales Manager, Cama Group

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is glad to support the exclusive session Young Executive Programme (YEP) at the Hong Kong Forum. The Hong Kong Forum is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide. It aims to foster cooperation and networking of the worldwide young members of the Federation and the local young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong

The Webinar will provide opportunities for participants to get inspiration from success stories of young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and exchange perspectives in an interactive manner.

Click here for registration.

 

Please note that admission is on a complimentary and first-come, first-served basis. Successful registrations will be notified by email.

 

AGENDA

4:00 pm – 4:20 pm Speakers Sharing

4:20 pm – 4:45 pm Panel Discussion

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm Q&A Session

5:00 pm onward Networking Session

 

MODERATOR

Ir. Eric Chan – Chief Public Mission Officer, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited

 

SPEAKERS

James Fok – Founder, Coeus Automation Technology

Abraham Lam – CEO, MEGA Automation Ltd

Winnie Lee – Co-Funder, Spread-it

The high-profile celebrations of the 40^th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in October served as a reminder of the tremendous achievements of the city to date. President Xi Jinping unveiled further autonomy for the city, emphasizing Shenzhen to be the new engine driving China’s economic growth.

At the same time, Hong Kong will serve as a dual engine with Shenzhen in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development, implying that opportunities will continue to emerge for Hong Kong businesses.

However, both individuals and corporates should be aware of the recent changes in the regulatory framework in the GBA. The GBA cities have been updating their regulations to attract talent and investment from overseas (including Hong Kong), so interested investors should keep up to date with all the latest developments in areas from dispute resolution to income tax before setting up operations in the GBA.

To learn more about the regulatory framework in the GBA, the Chambers have invited some legal and tax experts to share with members their insights on the following topics:

• corporate set up in the GBA and relevant legal procedures;
• Taxation planning of corporations and individuals in the GBA;
• Employment issues involving Hong Kong residents working in the GBA;
• Resolution of commercial disputes, and enforcement of judgments or arbitral awards in the GBA;
• Asset protection, wealth management, and family office set-up for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in the GBA.

   

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Victor Yang – Managing Partner, Yang Chan & Jamison LLP

Victor Yang has decades of legal experience focused on corporate and commercial, mergers and acquisitions, securities and public listings, and private wealth areas. He has acted for clients in many large cross-border M&A transactions in the hospitality, media, property, food, and restaurant businesses and assisted initial public offering of business in the shipping, container manufacturing, logistics, hotels, and telecommunication industries.

Prior to joining Yang Chan & Jamison., he was until 2017 the Managing Partner of a leading law firm in Hong Kong and a Director Emeritus of TerraLex, a global network of independent law firms. He was a founding Partner of the Canadian law firm Boughton Peterson Yang Anderson, the first Canadian law firm approved by the China Ministry of Justice in 1992 to be licensed as a foreign law firm in China, and was the Chief Representative of the firm’s representative office in Shanghai.

Yang had served as a director in 13 companies listed publically on stock exchanges in the United States of America, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

 

Peter Guang Chen – Partner, International Tax Services, Deloitte China

Peter Chen is both a certified public accountant and an attorney with more than 20 years of experience in tax advisory and planning. He has advised China, Hong Kong and the US, and other multinational corporations and high net worth individuals on their inbound and outbound transactions, China and international tax issues, investment structuring, regulatory, and business issues; mergers, acquisitions; and the reorganizations of multinationals in China and the Asia Pacific region; structuring of trusts, foundations, estate planning and asset preservation for individuals. He has represented companies and individuals to resolve tax disputes with tax authorities in China and the US.

Recently, Chen has been engaged by the Ministry of Finance of a Southeast Asian nation to draft the country’s tax regulations and to provide consulting on international tax matters.

Previously, Chen was with a major economic consulting firm and also was a tax partner at Deloitte US, where he was responsible for the China Desk in New York, and served as China leader at the firm’s International Centre of Excellence.

 

Winnie Chiu – Partner, Yang Chan & Jamison LLP

Winnie Chiu has extensive experience in Succession Planning, Will, Trust, and Probate related matters. She also handles disputes between beneficiaries; beneficiaries and the executor/administrator/trustee.

Chiu is a frequent speaker at seminars in Hong Kong, PRC, and overseas in relation to succession planning for trustee companies, bankers, investment advisors, accountants, lawyers, and high net worth individuals.

Chiu also has solid experience in handling contentious and non-contentious employment matters as well as anti-discriminations, sexual harassment, and personal data privacy related issues arising from recruitment, merger & acquisition, restructuring, and/or post-termination restrictive covenants. She regularly conducts seminars and training sessions for HR directors, professionals, and management of international companies.

Prior to joining Yang Chan & Jamison, Chiu had acted as a partner of various leading law firms, and she had also worked as an in-house lawyer for an international trustee company in Hong Kong.

 

Valarie Fung – Partner, Yang Chan & Jamison LLP

Valarie Fung is a highly experienced lawyer in dispute resolution. She has been providing legal services and advice to financial institutions, listed companies, multinational corporations, liquidators, trustees-in-bankruptcy, receivers, and high net worth individuals for many years. Fung specializes in handling:

• litigation and arbitration (including but not limited to commercial and contractual disputes, shareholders disputes, banking-related disputes, and probate disputes);
• regulatory investigations by the Securities and Futures Commission, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and the Independent Commission against Corruption, involving market misconduct in the securities market, anti-money laundering and anti-bribery;
• insolvency, bankruptcy, and receivership; and
• employment and restraint of trade.

Prior to joining Yang, Chan & Jamison LLP, Fung was Of Counsel at an international law firm ranked top ten in the world, before serving as Senior Counsel in the Litigation Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

 

Ellen Tong – Director, Global Employer Services, Deloitte China

Ellen Tong has worked for Deloitte in the US and Hong Kong. As a Tax Director in the Hong Kong office, Tong leads the U.S. Individual tax practice. Tong is also a specialist in China’s individual income tax, Hong Kong’s individual income tax, and mobility management. She has extensive experience in providing personal tax advisory and compliance services, advising on remuneration structure, equity rewards, tax equalization/ employee’s tax assistance programs, retirement benefits planning, policy design, implementation, review, mobility management, and immigration solutions to clients in different industries with a widespread and diversified workforce. Tong is experienced in handling cross-border issues and providing practical solutions in the deployment of resources for risk and control management.

Tong has in-depth experience in advising private and public companies on reward strategy and executive remuneration from design, implementation, manage to employee communications.

Tong also provides high-touch personal tax advice to senior executives and high net-worth individuals and acts as a trusted tax and business advisor to their family offices.

Tong is a Certified Public Account in the U.S. She is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Board of Accountancy. Tong has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

 

Stephanie Xue Bai – Senior Associate, Shanghai Qin Li Law Firm (Guangzhou office)

Stephanie Bai is admitted to practice law in both mainland China and the State of New York of USA. Before joining Qinli, Bai worked for an international law firm, a local boutique firm specializing in labor law, and a red Circle firm. She has nearly 9 years of legal service experience.

Bai’s legal practice focuses on corporate, private wealth, cross-border investment, labor law, and dispute resolution.

In the field of private wealth, Bai has gained practical experience in cross-border asset protection and inheritance, she has led several offshore family trust structure design and projects setup for Chinese HNW clients, among them several clients were Chinese Forbes listed families. In the field of labor and employment law, Bai has provided HR management legal risk prevention, labor dispute resolution, labor contract, and employee handbook review, working hour system consultation, and other related services to many large FIEs, private enterprises, and SOEs. Bai is a STEP Affiliate.

To support the Hong Kong Business Community, The Hong Kong Government has been sponsoring a number of subsidy projects under the Funding Scheme that has recently gained the interest of a larger number of enterprises, especially those facing serious challenges due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

On December 1st, with a roundtable in collaboration with Deloitte, the Incentives Chinese Team with the coordination of the Italian Desk of Deloitte AP ICE, will illustrate The BUD Fund, a dedicated Fund on “Branding, Upgrading and Domestic sales”.

Originally established in 2012 under the frame of the Mainland Scheme and the Free Trade Agreement Scheme, the Fund allows companies to be reimbursed for approved expenses incurred in projects aimed at boosting promotional sales activities undertaken in some APAC countries including Mainland China, Singapore and Macau. The reimbursement can amount up to HK$ 4,000,000 to cover costs such as advertisement, stores openings, social media advertisement and e-commerce platform set-up.

During the Round Table, the experts from Deloitte will give insight about the requirements needed for an application, how to tailor your project to your business needs and to maximize the chances of getting a favourable consideration from the approval authorities.

NOTE: This invitation is personal and non-transferrable. In order to guarantee a safe environment, the attendance to this event will be limited to 12 guests, assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note that this event is fully booked

Join the Retail Mixer, one of the best networking cocktails in town, and gather together with the retail players in Hong Kong.

On Monday, November 30th enjoy a unique cocktail inspired by Calabria – the homeland of turquoise waters and savory aromas and flavors- created with Amaro del Capo, the most well-known Calabrian liquor.

Discover the picturesque region of Calabria at Popinjays, meet with professionals working in the retail industry, and enjoying the breath-taking view over nighttime city lights.

  A limited number of seats are 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 Belt and Road Summit is a premier international platform for promoting business collaboration along the Belt and Road. The Summit gathers senior government officials and business leaders from countries and regions along and beyond the Belt and Road to exchange insights on multilateral co-operation and explore concrete business opportunities.

This winter the 5th edition of the summit will be held. The event will include thematic breakout sessions, project pitching sessions, business matching and virtual exhibitions.

Due to the current situation related to COVID-19, the summit will adopt a combination of online and physical formats.

For more information, please visit this website.

Not long ago, technology leaders everywhere were scrambling to keep pace with the accelerating speed of digital business transformation. Then, Covid-19 came along and everything changed…

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased collaboration between the business and technology teams, and also accelerated digital transformation and adoption of emerging tech such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, IoT, and intelligent automation. Many companies are trying to boost their performance using digital technologies and approaches.

At this joint chamber webinar on November, 27^th  James O’Callaghan – Partner and Head of Technology Consulting at KPMG in Hong Kong, China- will share the key findings of the Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey 2020. It covers some of the issues that are most important to technology leaders: from board priorities to technology strategy, to career.

Together with Lucy Werner – Head of Cloud at Google Hong Kong- talk about the AI adoption and readiness in Hong Kong, as well as the highlights and recommendations set out in the latest “Smarter Digital City – AI for Everyone” whitepaper.

 

Topics to be covered:

• Top priorities of CIO/technology leaders after the pandemic: what’s changed, what remains constant, and what digital leaders are doing to outpace their rivals in this new reality
• The perception of AI that includes motivation and barriers for adoption from businesses
• Uncovered future opportunities to accelerate AI development in Hong Kong post-COVID-19
• AI use cases from the Cloud perspective in four key sectors: Finance, Retail, Travel & Logistics, and Technology & Innovation
• Examination of the current AI ecosystem in Hong Kong

 

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, 25 November 2020

Access link for the webinar will be sent to participants 1 day before the event.

This session will be conducted via Webex.

   

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

James O’Callaghan, Partner at KPMG China

James is a Partner in KPMG’s Advisory business. With more than 20 years of experience, James has worked across industries from banking and insurance to the public sector, education, telcos, and media. He specialises in digital and operational transformation but also has a strong grasp of the governance and controls needed to run these new economy business models. His experience is spread across the UK and Europe and for the past 14 years in Asia.

   

Lucy Werner, Head of Cloud at Google

Lucy Werner is responsible for leading Google Cloud’s business in Hong Kong focused on helping enterprise customers with their digital transformation strategies and accelerating innovation. Her prior role at Google was leading Finance and Travel strategies for Pan Asian clients based in Hong Kong.

Lucy joined Google in January 2015. Her career prior to Google included leadership roles at Kenshoo across the Asia Pacific and in the USA at Spruce Media where Lucy was the Chief Operating Officer (a Facebook PMD partner), and at AdBrite as Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Business Development where she built the largest Independent Ad Exchange globally.

Lucy has also held several leadership roles in Finance at JP Morgan, Merill Lynch, and Deloitte.

Lucy holds an M.B.A from Harvard Business School a Bachelor of Commerce and CPA certification from the University of Cape Town.

   

The sourcing symposium Made in Asia goes virtual for the first time!

The resilience of global supply chains has come into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Against the backdrop of economic challenges and an ever-shifting consumer mindset, today we are forced to rethink extensive yet fragmented supply and value chains.

At a time when sourcing professionals worldwide are coming to terms with these realities, the French Chamber in Hong Kong is delighted to present the 10^th anniversary edition of its signature Made in Asia sourcing symposium in a new virtual format.

Under the guidance of the Chamber’s Sourcing Committee, a robust programme of sourcing experts, brands and retailers, manufacturers, and digitalisation leaders will take a deep dive into today’s unique challenges by exploring the different ways to protect value chains and reshape global supply chains.

Our experts will examine what the increasing focus on sustainability and deglobalisation means for stakeholders in their drive to innovate and advance their business resilience, cost optimisation, and risk mitigation to prepare for future crisis.

 

Don’t miss out on this year’s virtual Made in Asia as some of the most experienced sourcing experts around the globe join us as share their strategies to business recovery in recent months.

• Connect from anywhere you wish
• Learn from 20+ expert speakers from leading companies and organisations
• Virtual networking opportunities throughout the day

Deadline for registration*, Friday 20 November 2020 – 11:00 PM.

Programme and full line-up of speakers will be announced on madeinasia.hk

   

*For cancellations, please notify the French Chamber of Commerce in writing 3 days prior to the event. No shows will be charged.

In the third episode of the series dedicated to Sustainability, the Italian Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the topic of bio-architecture in retail design and construction.

The measures implemented in the retail shops due to the pandemic affected the air quality in the stores. What can the brand do to improve that? 

Bio-architecture is the future of construction, and it is becoming more and more popular on an international scale. It takes into account sustainability and attention towards the environment.

Green buildings are characterised by a combination of features that revolve around the reduction of ecological impact: minimisation of energy usage, use of recyclable and durable materials, incorporation of natural lights and advanced ventilation systems.

Guided by our guests, participants will learn all about the new attention to sustainability in construction and how this phenomenon is going to change the rules for all parts involved: architects, but also clients and landlords. They will discover how sustainability is going to be a game-changer in retail design and rental. 

Take part in our panel discussion on November 25th and don’t miss the chance to hear the insightful thoughts of our guest speakers!

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

 

Alessandro Bisagni, Founder and President BEE Incorporations 

Alessandro Bisagni is an international sustainability engineering consulting and technology company specializing in the creation of green and healthy buildings. Alessandro’s mission is to leverage business to do good. This includes educating corporations about tangible ways to build, renovate, and operate spaces sustainably while also helping advance sustainability in our urban environment. Over his career he has managed more than 400 green building projects across 30+ countries. The projects range from luxury retail flagships to eco-resorts to organic showrooms; with a combined footprint of over 40 million square feet. He has grown BEE to become a 50+ team in 12 offices, a LEED Proven Provider, and Top 15 LEED Consultancies in China as recognized by GBCI. BEE is currently the most experienced green building consultancy in the retail sector worldwide. 

 

Stefano Tronci, Associate Principal at WOODS BAGOT 

Stefano is an Italian architect with over 15 years of professional experience in mixed-use, master planning, civic architecture, urban design and interior design. A graduate from the University of Florence, he has built his career working across China including Beijing and Hong Kong, where he currently leads the studio’s sustainability and wellness initiatives.

His professional experience has enabled him to build a deep understanding of the China and Asia markets, the challenges faced by cities developing in this region, and the expectations of an ever changing population of future users. His design approach begins with analysis, to build an interaction of user behaviours and perspective. By grasping the point of view of future visitors or residents of a space or building, the design can then take shape.

 

Venisa Chu, Senior Manager of the Sustainability Department at New World Development Company Limited 

Venisa focuses on evangelizing the “New World Sustainability Vision 2030” across the Group’s business operations, and leads the standardization of sustainability practices across K11 Concepts Limited. With over 12 years of experience in the sustainability, technology, and education sectors, her expertise lies in stakeholder engagement, business operations and strategy, and risk mitigation covering markets in Canada, US, Singapore and Hong Kong, China.

Venisa holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Electrical Engineering) from the University of Toronto and a Master of Business Administration from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

 

The PRC’s new Foreign Investment Law (FIL) came into effect on 1 January 2020. It replaced the previous laws and regulations ruling on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and their corporate forms in China, including Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures Law, Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises Law, and the Chinese-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures Law.

What has changed the Chinese economy since launching the new Foreign Investment Law?

After ten months of implementation, what were the biggest challenges and opportunities, and what are the next for foreign investors?

Join Hawksford and Zhong Lun Law Firm for an insightful webinar and hear from experts on regulatory and financial advice to help foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) to navigate the era of China’s new economy and cope with the new normal.

TOPICS COVERED:

• Introduction to China’s Foreign Investment Law and Negative List
• Key impacts and opportunities of the new FIL on sino-foreign Joint Ventures
• Importance of internal control and due diligence
• Common mistakes of Foreign Firms engaged in Joint Ventures in China

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Francesca Scortichini, Associate Director of Account Management, China, Hawksford Francesca has considerable experience in advising Italian and international clients, from trading, retail, and industrial companies on investments in China and the Asian area. Francesca joined Hawksford Shanghai office in June 2014. Prior to joining Hawksford, she worked as a tax consultant in Italian CPA firms and in the asset management department of international leading investment banks. Francesca graduated in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan in 2004 and is a professional Chartered Accountant in Italy.

Quentin Bottasso, Legal Consultant, Zhong Lun Law Firm Quentin Bottasso is a Legal Consultant at Zhong Lun Guangzhou Office with a strong focus on advising international companies on the Chinese legal and regulatory system. Quentin has deep expertise and experience with regard to various aspects of Chinese law, particularly contract, labor, and commercial law, and his ability to understand his clients’ expectations and requirements makes him a valuable partner for those conducting business activities in China. His clientele is composed of mostly European companies in the industrial, sourcing, manufacturing, and wine industries. He is fluent in English and French and professionally proficient in Chinese (Mandarin) and Italian.

We are finally back with the coolest networking cocktail party!

Get rid of your Blue Monday feeling, on November 23rd let’s get together and meet with other like-minded, young professionals while enjoying delicious finger food and iconic Italian cocktails.

Join us at Pantry Centrale and don’t miss the chance to mingle with old and new friends.

  *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.

Di seguito l’agenda dell’evento con maggiori informazioni.

AGENDA

Interventi di apertura

• Pasquale Salzano, Presidente di SIMEST e Chief International Affairs Officer di CDP

• Luca Ferrari, Ambasciatore d’Italia nella Repubblica Popolare Cinese

Presentazione delle attività del Gruppo Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) e di SIMEST a sostegno dell’internazionalizzazione delle imprese

• Enrico Semprebene, Head of International Financing, CDP Finanziamenti CDP – Panda Bond

• Francesco Tilli, Chief External Relations Officer, SIMEST – Strumenti finanziari SIMEST a sostegno delle imprese

Apertura della sessione Q&A con presentazione delle esigenze delle aziende associate alla CCIC e alla CCHK

• Paolo Bazzoni, Presidente della Camera di Commercio Italiana in Cina

• Luca Cico, Presidente della Camera di Commercio Italiana a Hong Kong

Sessione Q&A e chiusura dei lavori

Moderatore:  Vice Capo Missione e Responsabile dell’Ufficio Economico-Commerciale dell’Ambasciata d’Italia nella RPC, Min. Cons. Emanuele de Maigret.

*Il seminario sarà tenuto in lingua italiana.

*Please note that this event is sold out  

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Aperitivo Milano is finally back! The finest Italian happy hour in Hong Kong and a prime opportunity for networking.

Spend a night admiring a stunning view of the Hong Kong harbour, while savouring an assortment of cocktails.

Join us at the Aqua Spirit Bar on November 17th for a wonderful evening of networking, the Italian way!

*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 a highly competitive, international city in the GBA, Hong Kong has a track record of continually advancing its expertise to drive business, especially in the areas of finance, logistics, trading, and professional services. Hong Kong not only ranks highly globally in its overall competitiveness and business environment but has also long played a key role in the GBA’s development.

To better understand how local enterprises can leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to develop the GBA, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council recently commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services Limited to conduct a study on Hong Kong’s position as the international business hub for the GBA. At this joint chambers webinar on 13 November, speakers will discuss the findings of the study and the factors that will reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the international business hub for the GBA.

Nicholas Kwan, Director of Research, HKTDC, and Albert Wong, Partner, Public Sector Consulting, PwC Hong Kong, will share the key findings of the survey, and why businesses are planning to expand their operations into the GBA. They will be joined by Felix Lee, Executive Director, UMP Healthcare, who will share his insights on his own company’s experience in investing in the GBA, which presents the greatest opportunity for Hong Kong companies’ development in the next decade.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Panellists

Nicholas Kwan, Director of Research, HKTDC

Kwan joined the HKTDC as Director of Research in May 2013. A seasoned economist, Kwan has 35 years of experience in economic and business research, including more than six years at Standard Chartered Bank as its Asia Research Head, seven years working for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority covering both macroeconomic and policy research, and 11 years at Merrill Lynch as its Asia Regional Chief Economist. Kwan is a graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and has an MBA degree from the UK’s Warwick University. He was also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

  Albert Wong, Partner, Public Sector Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong

Wong has over 20 years of consulting experience and has served a wide range of local and international clients in both the public and private sector, covering business areas such as innovation and technology, health and welfare, education and media and communication. He has extensive experience in policy formulation and review, feasibility study, financial analysis, business planning, regulatory and business impact assessment, options evaluation and public-private partnership.

  Felix Lee, Vice Chairman, China Committee, HKGCC Executive Director, UMP Healthcare Holdings

LEE is an Executive Director of UMP Healthcare Holdings and the President of UMP Healthcare China Limited. He is responsible for corporate development, international operations, merger and acquisitions. Lee is also a Senior Vice President of Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited, with responsibilities in making investments in the healthcare sector in Asia and globally, and an Independent Non-executive Director of China Resources Medical. Lee has extensive experience in law, finance and the healthcare industry. Prior to his current roles, Lee was a solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, an Analyst in the investment banking department UBS AG, Hong Kong Branch and a Director in the investment banking department of Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch.

  Moderator PC Yu, Convenor, GBA Working Group, HKGCC, Director and General Manager, Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium Ltd Member, Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)

On November 12th join us for this webinar in collaboration with Hawksford, InvestHK and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, on the unique opportunities for companies in the Greater Bay Area.

The Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a Chinese Government initiative aimed at promoting closer cooperation and economic integration between 11 cities of the Greater Bay Area among which Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou will serve as core hubs for driving economic growth.

In May 2020, the People’s Bank of China and financial regulators unveiled a plan to further open up and accelerate the development of the GBA into one of the world’s largest economic regions. In terms of scope, the GBA will represent one of the largest urban areas both in terms of size and population. It represents 12% of China’s national economy (equivalent to US$ 1.4 trillion), generated by only 5% of the country’s population.

Register now to discover the latest updates and learn from our experts the key drivers to succeed in the region.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dario Acconci, Managing Director, Asia, Hawksford

Dario is the Managing Director for South-East Asia whilst managing a strategic portfolio of clients in China and Hong Kong. He started his career in Hong Kong in 2003 working for an international law firm and developed a deep experience in assisting foreign investments into China, Hong Kong and South East Asia advising clients in connection to various aspects ranging from corporate, commercial to labour law. He has built a practice of multinational clients and a strong reputation of adviser to the board of several fashion and luxury brands.

  Mr Jimmy Chiang, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Invest Hong Kong, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Dr Jimmy Chiang is Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong, the government department responsible for attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment into Hong Kong. He joined Invest Hong Kong in August 2003 and was promoted to Head of Tourism and Hospitality in September 2010.

He took up the ADG position in April 2015, in which he oversees the Department’s investment promotion strategies in the areas of Business and Professional Services, Consumer Products, Creative Industries, Financial Services, Tourism and Hospitality and Transport and Industrial. Prior to joining Invest Hong Kong, Dr Chiang worked with a HongKong-based multinational transportation company in a number of different managerial roles for five years.

  Luca Cico, President of The Italian Chamber of Commerce

Luca Cico, Director at LC Consulting Asia Pacific Ltd. In his current role Luca works shoulder-to-shoulder with his Clients to unlock growth and create value by defining and implementing sharp and actionable Go-To-Market strategies, Commercial capabilities building programs and tools, Commercial organizations efficiency and effectiveness improvement interventions.

Luca has in his backpack more than 25 years of diversified businesses and multicultural environments experiences across Europe and Asia Pacific in leading FMCG (Mars, Colgate Palmolive, Ferrero, Bacardi, Coty) and Industrial (Pirelli) multinationals, with direct responsibilities for Asia Pacific since 2000.

  Francesco Montonati, Associate Director, Hong Kong, Hawksford  An International Law graduate, Francesco started his career at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in HK & Macau. He joined Hawksford in 2013 and has been working in both the Hong Kong and the Shanghai offices during the past years. During his years of practice, Francesco has extensively supported the establishment and business operations of foreign companies across Hong Kong and China, providing comprehensive advisory with outsourced administration services.    

Businesses in Hong Kong are facing an increased threat to their cybersecurity. When cyber incidents materialise adversely they have a very costly effect on the firm’s reputation, which is why it is important to know how to react to these eventualities. This webinar in collaboration with 7Cento and Lockton will be focused on the topic of cybersecurity and the way to respond to a cyber incident.

The event will highlight the major cyber threats that businesses face in the present, and it will show what are the most common cyber pitfalls. Our experts will guide the attendees through a simulation of a cyber incident, eventually explaining to them the roles of certain response service providers, the decisions facing the board and the role of insurance.

This experience will allow the participants to learn what to expect after a potential incident and what may be the serious implications for the business’ reputation.

Join this webinar to learn the most effective ways to reduce the damage provoked by a cyber incident, and thus how to protect the firm’s reputation

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

  Rory Young, AVP, Global Cyber and Technology, Lockton Companies

Rory Young lead’s Lockton’s Cyber and Technology risk transfer solution strategy for the wider Asia Pacific region. Rory has been part of Lockton’s Global Cyber and Technology team since 2015 with experience in both the London insurance market and in Asia. His experience focuses on Global insurance programs placement for a wide range of industries across multiple jurisdictions. Established in 2006, Lockton’s Global Cyber and Technology team are the largest Cyber broking team in London dedicated to providing unparalleled service and bespoke risk solutions to meet client needs, placing over USD100m of Cyber and Technology related Insurance Premium each and every year.

 

Patrick Yu, General Manager, SVP and Senior Partner, Head of Asia Pacific Financial and Professional Services Sector, FleishmanHillard

Patrick Yu is the general manager, senior vice president and senior partner at FleishmanHillard Hong Kong and the head of financial services, the Asia Pacific for the Company. Mr. Yu has a broad range of experience in strategic communications including reputation management, corporate marketing, senior media relations, and international communications program for financial institutions in the Asia Pacific. Mr. Yu is also an adjunct lecturer at the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at The University of Hong Kong.

  Simone Rapizzi, CEO / CTO, Whetu S.r.l.

Simone Rapizzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Whetu, is a white hat hacker that specialises in breaking into protected systems and networks to test and assess their security, exposing vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can detect and exploit them. Unlike malicious hackers, white hat hackers like Simone intervene only after explicit authorisation from the organisation that has hired them. As a specialised hacker, Simone has extensive international experience in projects such as Insider Threat Simulations, Security Assessments, Phishing Simulation, Security Awareness Training, Incident Response and Threat Analysis in several industries, including pharmaceuticals, finance, fintech, telco, energy and automotive.

  Fabrizio Rosina, CEO/CTO, 7Layers Srl

Fabrizio Rosina is CEO at 7Layers, recently acquired by Fastweb and one of FT1000’s fastest-growing companies in Europe and the Italian leader in Managed Security Services, SOC and Managed Detection and Response (MDR). With over 20 years’ experience in cybersecurity, Fabrizio has designed and implemented security solutions for some of the most successful fashion, infrastructure, manufacturing and financial firms in Europe. His experience ranges from SOC and MDR development to compliance and information security management, forensic analysis and cyber incident response plans, advanced persistent threat (ATP) researches, cyber security AI and ML, as well as ICS and SCADA security.

Please note that this event has been postponed

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 9 November. 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 is glad to support The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce Webinar Social Media Marketing in China, which will be held online on the 6th of November.

Starting from a panorama of the Chinese social media, the webinar aims to cover the following topics:

• How digital marketing is an ideal export tool for international brands;
• Why is a cultural mediator useful and how he/she can optimize the digital communication strategy for multinational companies;
• How to leverage social media in Chinese digital environment;
• Tips for setting up an integrated Online to Offline marketing strategy;
• Cases of international companies that successfully entered Chinese market in the digital era;
• What will China’s social media ecosystem look like in five to ten years.

Please note that this event is fully booked

The Retail Mixer is back!

Join one of the best networking cocktails in town, and gather together with the retail players in Hong Kong.

Get ready to fully immerse yourself in a sensational wine tasting and experience one of the finest Italian wine, the Franciacorta! Franciacorta is a sparkling wine whose origins go back to the middle age in the area of Brescia, Italy. In the heart of Franciacorta, the Contadi Castaldi winery has specialized in the art of innovation, continuously searching for the finest vineyards.

On Thursday, October 29th, get the chance to mingle with professionals working in the retail industry while exchanging ideas and experience.

Join us at our networking cocktail at Spiga in Central.   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

On Thursday October 29th, we are glad to partner up with Hawksford, Economic Development Board and The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore to discuss growth and expansion opportunities into the ASEAN region while using Singapore as a hub.

Learn about Singapore’s high growth business sectors, the government’s roadmap for innovation and understand how its business-friendly policies make it one of the easiest places in the world to do business.

Gain informative insights about the attractive tax treaties and regimes, the government support available for Hong Kong companies, IP protection, immigration policies, and the business set-up requirements to effectively grow or expand into this thriving market.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dario Acconci, Managing Director of South East Asia, Hawksford

Dario is the Managing Director for South-East Asia whilst managing a strategic portfolio of clients in China and Hong Kong. He started his career in Hong Kong in 2003 working for an international law firm and developed a deep experience in assisting foreign investments into China, Hong Kong and South East Asia advising clients in connection to various aspects ranging from corporate, commercial to labour law. He has built a practice of multinational clients and a strong reputation of adviser to the board of several fashion and luxury brands.

 

Guanyou Chen, Regional Director, Europe, Economic Development Board

Guanyou Chen oversees the UK, France and Italy market in Europe, with a focus on the Consumer, Healthcare and Professional Services industries. This entails working with companies such as Ferrero, Menarini (Italy), Unilever, WPP (UK) and Sanofi, LVMH (France).

     

Salvatore Di Chiara, Head of Account Management, Hawksford

Salvatore is a qualified Certified Public accountant in Italy and gained substantial experience in strategic, commercial, and operational advice for large European corporations investing in Asia.  Salvatore supervises and coordinates the accounting and tax team, advising local and international clients in Singapore, Malaysia and China, with the main focus on Industrial Investments, Oil & Gas, ICT and Luxury.

 

Giacomo Marabiso, Managing Director, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore

Giacomo has over 10 years of experience in a management position as Marketing manager, Business development manager and Secretary-General leading business development services for European and Singaporean companies with a focus on the following markets: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Italy. Main sectors covered: furniture, building and construction, consumer goods, green energy. Giacomo also has a strong institutional and business network in SEA and Italy.

 

After the success of the first episode of our newest series of talks dedicated to Sustainability and Well-being, The Italian Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the second appointment about the sustainable trends in the fashion industry. 

The demand for a sustainable, accountable and transparent fashion industry is evolving quicker than ever both in Europe and Asia, and with it, the need to adapt to the consumer’s changing values and desires. 

New technologies are taking the forefront in innovating the fashion industry and will ultimately play a role in reducing fashion’s ecological impact. Learn more about the meaning of greenwashing and understand when an organization doesn’t live up to the standards of sustainable business practices. 

What are the new opportunities and challenges in the fashion industry that will arise from such ecological innovations?

On Wednesday, October 28th, join us for a panel discussion with industry experts and leaders who will share their insights and discussions on the sustainable fashion industry and its impact on the future of fashion.

RSVP now to secure your place!

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Moderator

Dr. Esterina Nervino, Director of Retail in Asia (part of Bluebell)

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.

Prior to Retail in Asia, she taught media and business communication at the university level, and worked for Italian companies in fashion and tourism. She is often invited to share her social semiotic perspectives on luxury and fashion branding in different public and private institutions. 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. She is also Junior Adjunct Professor of Intercultural Communication and Language Variation at the Department of Studies on Language and Culture of the Universita’ degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy. Her research interests include luxury and art, luxury and space, luxury and ESG, country of origin effect and language use, retail experience, intercultural communication. She  also holds a M.A. in Foreign Languages for Business Communication from the Universita’ degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Italy), a B.A. in Language Mediation from the Universita’ degli Studi della Calabria (Italy), an Executive Education Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from INSEAD (Singapore).

Panellists 

Elena Raho, Founder of HERE FASHION HUB

Elena Raho graduated from Industrial Design at the Polytechnic University of Turin – Italy, and has since developed a great passion for lifestyle products creation while cultivating a deep interest in all philosophical aspects of design thinking.

She began her career at Fila and has since then gathered expertise at other major renowned fashion brands such as Adidas and Armani. Early in her career, Elena travelled to China for her work in design and development. She fell in love with Asia and settled in Hong Kong to develop her business venture teaming up with multi-cultural partners in Europe and Asia.

With Elena’s global perspective on fashion trends and technical know-how in product development, marketing and sourcing, HERE FASHION HUB has developed beyond expectations, evolving into a broader platform concept for the future lifestyle and fashion industry.

AJ Mak , Founder & CEO at  Chain of Demand 

AJ Mak is the Founder and CEO of Chain of Demand, a predictive analytics company targeting the fashion industry.  Their proprietary AI algorithms leverages big data to predict market demand for fashion brands, empowering them to minimize inventory waste and maximize margins.

His background is from the apparel supply chain field hence their specialization in the fashion industry.  AJ graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a bachelor of science in Decision Science.

 

Gio Giacobbe, CEO at ACBC

Experts agree the c-suite is the weak link when it comes to cybersecurity in 2020. Jeff Bezos’ phone being hacked in 2018 is still fresh in the minds of many C-level executives, and for a good reason – many are being phished for their corporate and personal account login and password data, and more. According to most recent research*:

• 84% of C-level executives say they had been targeted by at least one cyberattack in the past year, with phishing attacks again being the most common (54%).
• 78% of IT leaders say the C-Suite is the most likely to be targeted by phishing attacks.
• 76% of CEOs admit to bypassing security protocols to get something done faster, sacrificing security for speed.

Cybercriminals are fine-tuning their social engineering skills, getting better at impersonating executives and sending emails asking for wire transfers, privileged access account resets, corporate credit card requests, and more, all in the CXOs’ name.

Simone Rapizzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Whetu, is a white hat hacker that specialises in breaking into protected systems and networks to test and assess their security, exposing vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can detect and exploit them. Simone is an expert in cybersecurity awareness training specifically designed for c-level executives.

 

During the webinar, Mr Rapizzi will provide practical tips and real uses cases about:

• What is cybersecurity for the c-level and why we need it?
• Threat Landscape: who is attacking me and why?
• Tactics and Procedures of known and common attacks
• Cyber Hygiene: best practices to protect ourselves
• Live demo: hacking scenario

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Simone Rapizzi, CEO / CTO, Whetu S.r.l.

Simone Rapizzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Whetu, is a white hat hacker that specialises in breaking into protected systems and networks to test and assess their security, exposing vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can detect and exploit them. Unlike malicious hackers, white hat hackers like Simone intervene only after explicit authorisation from the organisation that has hired them. As a specialised hacker, Simone has extensive international experience in projects such as Insider Threat Simulations, Security Assessments, Phishing Simulation, Security Awareness Training, Incident Response and Threat Analysis in several industries, including pharmaceuticals, finance, fintech, telco, energy and automotive.

 

PLEASE NOTE: This event is by personal invitation only and non-transferrable. In order to guarantee an interactive and useful training environment, the attendance to this webinar will be limited to 15 guests, assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

*Forbes, Cybersecurity’s Greatest Insider Threat Is In The C-Suite, 2020MobileIron & Vanson Bourne, Trouble at the Top: Why the C-Suite is the weakest link when it comes to cybersecurity, 2020

LA PERLA is delighted to invite The Italian Chamber of Commerce Members to celebrate the Maison 25th Anniversary!

On Wednesday, October 21st, join us at LA PERLA store in Harbour City and discover the MAISON, LA PERLA’s most treasured and timeless collection made with Italian silk satin, a true expression of revolutionary craftsmanship and luxurious quality.

End you week with the best lingerie shopping and receive an exclusive voucher of *HKD500 upon every HKD5,000 purchase and a complimentary gift, a LA PERLA silk-made eye mask. (**The image is for reference only)

RSVP now to secure your spot. 

 

 

Terms & conditions

• Voucher is valid at LA PERLA Hong Kong boutiques only.
• Voucher is applicable for regular-priced products only.
• Voucher can only be used ONCE per customer.
• Voucher is not exchangeable for cash.
• The complimentary gift can redeem upon any purchase 
• In case of any dispute, the decision of LA PERLA Far East Ltd shall be final.

*Offer valid while stocks last

Hong Kong is a primary retail destination. However, the current situation of emergency due to COVID-19 is putting the future of many businesses at stake. Consumer numbers have lowered, forcing lots of retailers to abandon the local market.

After the great success of the very insightful first business lunch, it is time for an update: the economy is slowly recovering but it is hard to foresee what will be the future of retail in Hong Kong.

Join us for a business lunch on Monday, October 19th. Together with our guest speaker Nick Bradstreet, Managing Director of Savills, we will better understand how the current implications of the health emergency will affect the retail business in Hong Kong in the years to come.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Nick Bradstreet, Managing Director, Leasing, Savills Hong Kong

Nick Bradstreet has over 28 years of experience and possesses a unique understanding of the retail market across Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific. During his time at Savills, he has been responsible for assisting some of the world’s biggest retail names to secure flagships in Hong Kong and the Region. Apart from his role as Head of Leasing, overseeing the retail, office, and residential teams, he also acts as a key contact between the Savills Asia regional offices and the London headquarters.

   

*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 China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, supported by the Consulate General of Italy in Canton, the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong – Macao, is glad to invite you to the webinar organised by its Innovation and Technology Working Group, titled “The future of banking: technological trends reshaping the industry”, that will be held on the 16th of October via Zoom at 5 pm (China time).

The webinar will be held on Zoom and it is tailored for an audience of Corporate C-levels (e.g., CEOs, CFOs, etc.) and Senior Managers in different functional areas, including Business Development, Finance, ICT, Product/Service Developments, and Treasury.

For more info please visit this link.

The Hainan province’s offshore duty-free shopping policy, implemented on July 1st 2020 as a result of China’s Free Trade Port development on the island, has strengthened the travel retail shopping industry in China. With the introduction of such policies, Hainan may represent a new major destination for local and international tourism and shopping. 

Chinese consumers are responding to such policy with vigour, flocking to Hainan and soaring duty-free sales to an increase of sales of 250%. 

Will Hainan become a globally-significant free trade port for travel retail in the years to come? Will this provide new access and opportunities for businesses that will emerge from this development?

Join us on our webinar on Thursday, October 15th and hear from industry experts thee insights on Hainan and its development as a fledgeling travel retail industry hub. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

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.

Nicole Zhang, Senior Partner, Hainan Region, KPMG in China

Nicole Zhang is a partner-in-charge for KPMG’s Hainan business. Since 2018, she has maintained a strong relationship with government departments and enterprises on behalf of KPMG, and led projects serving the government at all levels and enterprises in Hainan Province.

Nicole has more than 14 years of experience in providing tax planning, corporate restructuring, tax due diligence, commercial and tax planning for business operations, tax-related forex management and other tax consulting services. She provides professional insights to both multinational corporations and domestic enterprises in the area of corporate restructuring, listing, tax compliance review, and due diligence. She has been providing tax advisory services related to VAT reform since 2012. She especially has abundant experience in the field of replacing business tax with a VAT on the real estate industry. She is also active in providing speeches in terms of tax insights in public events and seminars.

Dr. Esterina Nervino, Director of Retail in Asia (part of Bluebell) 

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.

Prior to Retail in Asia, she taught media and business communication at the university level, and worked for Italian companies in fashion and tourism. She is often invited to share her social semiotic perspectives on luxury and fashion branding in different public and private institutions. 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. She is also Junior Adjunct Professor of Intercultural Communication and Language Variation at the Department of Studies on Language and Culture of the Universita’ degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy. Her research interests include luxury and art, luxury and space, luxury and ESG, country of origin effect and language use, retail experience, intercultural communication. She  also holds a M.A. in Foreign Languages for Business Communication from the Universita’ degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (Italy), a B.A. in Language Mediation from the Universita’ degli Studi della Calabria (Italy), an Executive Education Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from INSEAD (Singapore).

The concept of permanent establishment (“PE”), first introduced in the 1940s, has not been mentioned frequently in Hong Kong as the taxability of profits has relied on the question of the source of profits. After the launch of Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), a project by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the definition of PE has a new chapter internationally. The enactment of Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No.6) Ordinance 2018 has also brought the international standard to life in Hong Kong.

Would this change of definition of PE bring more controversy or settlement of tax issues?

The Italian Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Ernst & Young, is glad to present this webinar that will provide insights on the change of meaning of PE in Hong Kong and its tax implications. Our experts will deepen the impact of the new definition to Hong Kong resident and non-resident companies, comparing the PE and enforcement in the Asia Pacific region.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

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

Wilson is a Tax Partner in Hong Kong, with more than 20 years of Hong Kong corporate tax and transaction tax experiences.  He provides tax advisory and compliance services to conglomerates, listed companies as well as US and European-based multinational corporations.

His tax experiences include group structure rationalization, tax due diligence review, pre-acquisition tax structuring advice, cross-border transaction planning and compliance, IPO review and restructuring as well as tax accounting advice.  He has extensive experience in dealing with Hong Kong tax authorities, for example assisting corporations in settling pro-longed tax disputes on contentious tax issues.  More recently, he advised his clients on tax-efficient procurement model and structure, withholding tax planning as well as the application of tax resident certificate for tax treaties between Hong Kong and overseas jurisdictions.

   

Sangeeth Aiyappa, Director, Transfer Pricing, Greater China, EY

Sangeeth has over 14 years of transfer pricing experience with Ernst & Young, with significant experience in Greater China, OECD and other Asian based transfer pricing documentation and planning.

Sangeeth has been involved in a wide range of transfer pricing projects covering tangible, intangible and service transactions. Her project experience includes the evaluation of inter-company pricing policies for planning and compliance purposes, defence documentation, documentation for advance pricing arrangements and setting up systems for accurate service cost allocations.

She has extensive experience with tax planning and cross-border tax structuring projects with respect to the restructuring of principal structures, evaluating alternative operating models and redesigning transfer pricing policies/models.

 

SMEs operating in the APAC region, and particularly in south-east Asia, are witnessing an increased gap between unmet demand and inaccessible trade finance.

According to the Asian Development Bank, the current trade finance gap, or the amount of requested trade finance that is rejected, is estimated at $1.5 trillion globally.

New Economy businesses operating in Asia – especially during the pandemic – face long credit terms between production and shipment to customers, and have too few options for financing their sales cycle through the banking system.

Our Chamber is pleased to present you this webinar, in collaboration with Fidinam and Currenxie, on Wednesday, September 30th. Our speakers will provide a presentation on how APAC based Fintech startups are trying to bridge this gap, providing a wide range of trade finance services ranging from invoice factoring & discounting to eCommerce loans and revolving credit line.

Register now to learn the different solutions for SMEs seeking methods to finance their operations.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

 

Filippo Buzzi, Head of Italian Desk, Head of Blockchain Desk at Fidinam (Hong Kong) Limited

During his career, Filippo has worked in Switzerland, United Kingdom, Mainland China and finally Hong Kong. After graduating at University of Trieste in Italy, he studied in both London (University of London) and Amsterdam (IBFD) where he has built his competence in international taxation. Filippo is bilingual in Italian and English.

     

Pierre Garnier, Head of Trade Finance at Currenxie Limited  

Pierre oversees eCommerce financing at Currenxie. An experienced trade finance executive and trained banking auditor, he has spent 15 years in Asia, 9 of which were in Guangzhou advising MNCs on their Foreign Direct Investment strategies into China. He moved to Hong Kong in 2012 as Chief Representative for CIC, a major French Banking Group. He holds a Masters degree in Finance from University Paris – Sorbonne.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macao is pleased to present: TRUE ITALIAN TASTE – A sensory journey: The Olive Oil Experience, 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 Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad.

TRUE ITALIAN TASTE is an initiative that aims to raise awareness on the benefits derived from the use of authentic Italian DOP (PDO – Protected Designation of Origin) and IGP (PGI – Protected Geographical Indication) agri-food products. In doing so, the project hopes to support makers of certified Italian products while showcasing the healthy qualities of Italian food.

Olive oil is one of the healthiest and oldest oils, pillar of the Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, and it is an omnipresent ingredient in every kitchen. There is so much that can be said, and yet so little is known about it.

How is olive oil made and how many varieties are there? How should you taste and use olive oil? 

During the Masterclass, an olive oil expert will present and take our guests on an extraordinary journey discovering 2 different Italian Olive Oils from 2 different regions, respectively from Sicily and  Apulia. 

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

The Italian Chamber of Commerce is proud to present a new series of talks dedicated to Sustainability and Well-being. During each episode, leading profiles will bring their knowledge from different industries to cover a wide variety of aspects that this complex topic involves.  Curious to know more?

Join the first session on September 23rd and discover everything you need to know about ECO LIVING and ZERO WASTE!  

Worldwide awareness about pollution, climate change, and environmental damages is now leading most people to rethink their daily life. Us, as individuals, we know more than ever that our role is key, and that our everyday action can drastically change the future of our ecosystem.

As people are adapting to this change, today is the perfect time to engage consumers on the topic of healthy and sustainable living. We need to learn together, share our experiences, and innovate in a way that makes our life responsible and better for the environment. 

How can effectively be our daily routine a step forward?

Learn how to reduce your environmental impact with our experts. Join our panel discussion on September 23rd, and catch the opportunity to discuss eco-living with conscious consumers and businesses operating in the sustainable field.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Miko Bantigue, Partner & Director of Operations of MANA!

Miko built a career developing marketing for brands like Starbucks before moving from New York to Hong Kong to manage regional clients in South East Asia and China.

In 2017, after a decade building others’ brands, and with a deepening sense of purpose for the health and wellbeing of people and the planet, he left his career and became a partner in MANA!, Hong Kong’s leading plant-based fast-casual restaurant group, serving plant-based whole-food, served fast, in an eco-friendly & responsible manner. His goal is to scale the business from 10 to 100 stores!

 

Terence Hon, Co-Founder of Green Price 

Terence is one of the few social entrepreneurs who started the venture in their early university lives. With his enthusiasm for the environment and business strategies, GreenPrice has gotten much public exposure and expanded 4 physical stores. It is the first and most recognisable short-dated products retailer in Hong Kong with a mission to reduce food waste.

 

Herbert Yum, Research Manager Hong Kong at Euromonitor International

Herbert Yum is a Research Manager, with extensive experience in managing consulting projects at Euromonitor International, Hong Kong. Prior leading Hong Kong’s syndicated research team, he has conducted research projects throughout Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau for industries including the Apparel Supply Chain, Beverage, Precision Cleaning, Fresh Food, Consumer Health and Consumer Finance and has been involved in a diverse portfolio of IPO projects, due diligence, product positioning and claim validation, and study of market penetration across Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. Prior to joining Euromonitor, Herbert worked as a PE & VC market data researcher, serving institutional clients on research work in the Asia Pacific regions. Herbert is a CFA and FRM charter holder.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is glad to present “The Authentic Italian Table”, a project within the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE* national campaign, aimed at consolidating the knowledge of the authentic Italian products in the Hong Kong and Macao market, with particular focus on PDO-PGI products.

The Authentic Italian Table series will include an educational virtual tour on September 18th dedicated to the Sicily region and Tasca D’Almerita Winery.

Discover Sicily, an amazing island rich in history and traditions, where you can find diversity in landscapes and timeless sceneries. Sicily represents all over the world one of Italy’s enogastronomic excellences.

Through our Sicilian virtual tour, hosted by Corrado Maugeri, Manager at Tenuta Regaleali, our guests will learn more about the vineyard that expresses the character of the traditional Sicilian grapes.

   

With over 200 years with 8 generations, the Tasca D’Almerita Family has been expressing their love for Sicily through their wines. Tasca D’Almerita Winery is a pioneer of agricultural innovation and custodian of farming’s most authentic values, protecting the Sicilian territory’s unique ecosystem.

The international varieties take on unique flavours and aromas that are recognisably only in the Mediterranean territory.

Our guests will make the most of their time at home with The Authentic Italian Table experience with Chef Fabrizia Lanza and the wine and tourism expert Corrado Maugeri who will share their knowledge about Sicilian enogastronomy history and traditions.

 

ABOUT THE EXPERTS

Corrado Maurigi Brand Manager, Tenuta Regaleali, Tasca d’Almerita

Corrado Maurigi considers wine one of the most alive elements in nature and is an incomparable storyteller, particularly when it comes to sharing tales and age-old secrets from the incredible winemaking region in which he lives and works. Corrado Maurigi, born in 1976, was originally responsible for Tenuta Capofaro on the island of Salina before moving into his current role as hospitality and brand manager for Tenuta Regaleali, the storied home of the Tasca d’Almerita family since 1830 and open-air viticultural laboratory. A professional sommelier, official ONAV taster, WSET level II graduate and passionate vigneron, Corrado takes pride in travelling the world to share the agricultural philosophy of Tasca: the ways in which the generations-deep family tends to the land and fosters their vines with keen attention to sustainability, not to mention the wines themselves – products of years of research and wisdom.

 

Fabrizia Lanza, Director of the Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School

Fabrizia Lanza brings the joys and knowledge of Sicilian food and culture into people’s lives around the world. Born in Palermo, Fabrizia grew up with her family’s 200-year-old agricultural estate in the heart of Sicily, home to the international winery Tasca D’Almerita. After obtaining a degree in Art History, she worked for 25 years as an art curator. Meanwhile, Fabrizia’s mother, Anna Tasca Lanza, established the well-known Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School in 1989 to promote Sicilian cuisine to a foreign audience. In 2006, Fabrizia decided to join Anna’s venture to be closer to her family and reconnect with Sicilian food and its environment. As the current owner and Executive Director of Anna Tasca Lanza, Fabrizia has transformed her mother’s cooking school into a hub of Sicilian food knowledge and culture. Beyond the food-centric workshops and lessons throughout the year, in 2016 Fabrizia created an experiential food education course. In addition, in 2018 she founded the Food Heritage Association is a non-profit initiative that achieves its aim of valorising local gastronomic practices through research and documentation. 

 

#extraordinaryitaliantaste#trueItaliantaste#iffoodcouldtalk

 

*This event is part of the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, part of a national campaign whose main goal is to promote awareness around the world about the authentic and certified agri-food Italian products.  TRUE ITALIAN TASTE 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.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is glad to present “The Authentic Italian Table”, a project within the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE* national campaign, aimed at consolidating the knowledge of the authentic Italian products in the Hong Kong and Macao market, with particular focus on PDO-PGI products.

The Authentic Italian Table series will include an educational virtual tour on September 16th  dedicated to the Piedmont region and Ceretto Winery.

The Piedmont region is a land to discover through its unique products, artisanal tradition, and creative food and wine culture deeply rooted in history and people. 

During our enogastronomic virtual tour Federico Ceretto, CEO of Ceretto Wineries, will present to our guests the wonders behind the Ceretto vineyard. 

With 160 hectares of estate-owned vineyards, 4 wineries, 17 different wines, Ceretto Winery represents a story of a family that has been enhancing the particular characteristics of the Langhe and its wines. The secret of success for Ceretto in Piedmont is owed to the exceptional soil and climate of the Langhe and the proprietors’ passion and wisdom to capture this quality in the wine.

   

Our guests will have the pleasure to learn from chef Dennis Panzeri, from La Piola restaurant, the authentic flavors and rich culinary tradition of the Langhe that are part of the enogastronomy heritage of the Piedmont region

   

ABOUT THE EXPERTS

 

Federico Ceretto, Ceretto Wineries CEO

Since his young age, Federico Ceretto already entered the heart of his profession, starting to deal with the commercial management of Ceretto and above all of the foreign markets, collaborating mainly with importers, and following also the sales network in Italy, supporting agents in their visits to customers. Dynamic, sociable and a great wine lover, he immediately invested a lot of time and dedication in the search for new export markets, exploring new nations that have proved to be very interesting for the development of the market. “My generation is fortunate to have inherited solid foundations and strong values built over the years by my father and my uncle. Our challenge now is to commit ourselves to following this path with a new and fresher vision”.

 

Dennis Panzeri, Chef at La Piola

Always passionate about cooking, in 1991 he obtained the certificate of the assistant chef at the hotel management school of Como Monte Olimpino. “Thanks to the passion of the Ceretto family, and the determination of Enrico Crippa, I am able to express myself at “la Piola” Restaurant. For me, it’s the best restaurant in the Langhe.”

  #extraordinaryitaliantaste#trueItaliantaste#iffoodcouldtalk  

*This event is part of the TRUE ITALIAN TASTE, part of a national campaign whose main goal is to promote awareness around the world about the authentic and certified agri-food Italian products.  TRUE ITALIAN TASTE 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.

The Belt and Road Summit is a premier international platform for promoting business collaboration along the Belt and Road. The Summit gathers senior government officials and business leaders from countries and regions along and beyond the Belt and Road to exchange insights on multilateral co-operation and explore concrete business opportunities.

For more information, please visit this website.

On Friday, September 4th, join Euromonitor International’s webinar “The Coronavirus Era in Asia Pacific – From Sustainability to Purpose”, where Peter Wong, Analyst from Euromonitor will present how sustainability is evolving during COVID-19 in APAC:

• The impact of COVID-19 on the economic and consumer landscape
• The rise and evolution of sustainability, accelerated corporate shift towards purpose over profit
• The pillars of purposeful leadership in the COVID-19 era

Following the presentation will be a live panel discussion with Chow Tai Fook, Green Monday, The Purpose Business, and Swire Coca-Cola HK, who will share insights into how their companies and industries have shifted and prioritized purpose and putting sustainability at the core of their decisions in the APAC region.

Don’t miss this appointment!

With Southeast Asia’s growth story has propelled forward in recent years, numbers of investors are exploring opportunities in the ASEAN and emerging markets.

In this webinar, PWC tax professionals will share the practical information such as major economic indicators, comparative advantages/disadvantages and tax considerations for investors to consider whether this is the right time to invest and expand into the ASEAN countries.

On August 27th, join us and learn from PWC experts opportunities and challenges that have arisen from the US-China trade war and the COVID-19 pandemic. The pros and cons discussed during the presentation will hopefully help the audience understanding whether this is the right time to invest and expand into the ASEAN markets.

Book now to secure your ticket!

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

 

Emily Chak, Partner, Tax Services, PwC

Emily joined PwC in 2003 and is currently a Partner at PwC Hong Kong. She has over 14 years of experience in advising local and multinational clients in different industries with a focus on transportation and logistics as well as energy and utilities. Emily serves a strong base of Chinese clients, including State-Owned and Private-Owned Enterprises, as well as MNCs. She has also led and been heavily involved in numerous mergers and acquisition projects and regional tax advisory assignments, such as IPO planning, corporate restructuring, cross-border financing and cash pooling arrangements, and risk assessments, etc. Emily has extensive experience in dealing with tax officials from the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department for the resolution of tax disputes and tax investigation cases.

 

Mr Desmond Wong, Tax Senior Manager, PwC

Desmond joined PwC in 2007 and is a Senior Manager of PwC Hong Kong’s corporate tax practice. Desmond has accumulated experience in providing tax services to a large number of multinational and domestic clients of various industries, such as consumer and industrial products, technology as well as real estate.  Further, Desmond has taken part in numerous Hong Kong tax compliance and consulting assignments involving corporate restructuring and tax due diligence.  He is currently acting as the Client Relationship Manager for a number of PwC priority clients with a dominant presence in the Asia Pacific.

 

Mr William Wong, Tax Manager, PwC

William joined PwC in 2013 and is a Tax Manager of PwC Hong Kong’s corporate tax practice. He has over 7 years of experience in providing Hong Kong, PRC and international tax and business consulting services and assisting companies with cross-border transactions on tax planning and tax structuring.  Recently, William advised government-related organisations and NGOs in Hong Kong on investing and doing businesses in the ASEAN countries. William holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Melbourne.  Besides, he is a member of the Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia.