Assindustria President Roberto Zuccato talks about the outcome of the Peking mission: China is getting closer. "Opportunities are numberless but they need to be seized through common strategies rather than on one's own".
“I had not been there for four years. I did not expect such a change. China has really taken a big leap forward and that still seems unbelievable. I had to think over my ideas again. China is growing at such a pace that is ten times Europe's average growth. The world's future is here”, says President Roberto Zuccato on the phone from Beijing, just before coming back to Italy.
The economic forum ended Italy's third business mission to China with a series of agreements. Among these is also a highly-innovative promotion scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises. The mission, which was closely linked to the Shanghai Expo, was joined by the Italian Government, Confindustria, headed by President Emma Marcegaglia, ICE – the foreign trade body - and ABI – the bankers' association.
This mission was just one of a series of outstanding Italian-style initiatives held in China, such as the plan for a direct Venice-Peking flight route.
Owing to the global financial crisis, followed by the slump of Western industries, the Chinese giant has now acquired a leading role admired all over the world, thus radically changing the balance of the global economy.
gThe first thing we noticed – says Zuccato – was the radical change of the people's mindset. They are well aware of the role they are now playing worldwide. They foster stability, as they are the leading exporters, especially as regards the euro-dollar exchange. And that makes China a more reliable partner now than it was in the past decades”.
Anyway, having illusions about easy business in China would be wrong. “China is a complex country. There are many opportunities but if you want to seize them, you cannot do that without preparation. You can trade with this country only if you have planned what to do there. Everything is huge – their market, manufacturing, consumptions, and society itself. You need resources but also clear, innovative ideas, and excellent products. Small-sized businesses cannot do anything by themselves – says Zuccato -. It's different if you do business in districts”.
Another big change that I noticed and that, I believe, is the secret for their economic development – says President Zuccato, who was also joined by Stefano Acerbi, Silvia Tommasetti, Massimo Carboniero and Paolo Bastianello -, is that Chinese people are greatly determined and quick to make things happen. Indeed, the rest of the world cannot cope with their pace”.
Italy must play its cards right. Our country is known for its racing cars, motorbikes, technology, machinery, design, fashion and style. “In China there are billions of people who would like to visit Italy as their first country abroad. Taking into account that there is a middle class, amounting to nearly 250 million people, all of them are wealthy and dream of visiting our country”.
Yet, there is some bias towards the Chinese economic power and is so rooted that some even fancy some “yellow” danger. “So did I, but I had to change my mind – says Zuccato -. There is no such danger. Here there are huge opportunities but they must be seized through a strategic plan”. Issues such as counterfeiting, unfair competition and imitation of products are not just bias. Actually, our mission took a great step ahead through its “Stilnovo” project – a distribution channel for made-in-Italy middle brands. I'm referring to safeguarding one's ingenuity property, copyrights and brand rights.
Over 15 thousand Italian trademarks and patents are registered in China. There is still a lot to be done but cooperation has just started – says Zuccato -. Many entrepreneurs managed to reach real agreements. Personally I was able to get further knowledge about my company's core business. And this proves that mistrust must be put aside, because the time to have confidence in China has come”.
© Confindustria Vicenza