March 2019 German Parliamentarians Visiting Startup Factory

German Parliamentarians Visiting Startup Factory

March 2019

The members of the German Bundestag Dr. Carsten Linnemann, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and chairman of the SME and Business Association (MIT) of CDU/CSU parties, and Stefan Rouenhoff were given a comprehensive picture of the situation of German SMEs in China by visiting the Startup Factory and Smart Factory Kunshan on March 1^st.

Bernd Reitmeier, the general manager of Startup Factory introduced Startup Factory’s incubation concept for European manufacturing SMEs as well as the current business environment for SMEs in China. In open, informal talks, representatives of German-invested SMEs discussed with Dr. Ing. Linnemann and Mr. Rouenhoff concerns of German companies in China, whether (increasingly) restrictions on business operations exist for foreign companies and what German and European policy makers can do to strengthen the competitiveness of German companies.

During the factory tour Linnemann and his colleagues got a first-hand experience how 35 European companies from different industry sectors start and expand their business. Christian Dorfmueller, managing partner of Startup Factory, introduced typical production and operating modes of German companies that start in China. Some companies such as Schwanog, BEKA and Bilsing, explained their production processes and products for the Chinese market.

At a round table of companies from Startup Factory as well as neighboring German-invested companies located in Kunshan current topics for SMEs in China were discussed. The business implications of China’s Cyber Security Law and Social Credit System also came up.

The delegation of the both parliamentarians was accompanied by Sun Shouliang, Director of the International Department of the Central Committee of CPC and by Sven Portius from the economic department of the German Embassy Beijing and their team members.

The Startup Factory hopes Dr. Linnemann and Mr. Rouenhoff could take away a good understanding of the development of foreign invested SMEs in China, which they back in Berlin can use for policy making towards and with China.

About Startup Factory

Startup Factory is a currently the largest business incubator for small and mid-sized European enterprises that are looking for assembly or production facilities, a repair workshop or a job shop in China to extend their business activities.

At present, Startup Factory runs subsidiaries for 35 European companies on 39,000 sqm with a total of more than 300 employees at its factory location in Kunshan, near Shanghai. Our experienced German-Chinese management team in Kunshan is supported by a contact office in Munich. In addition to flexible rental units, Startup Factory offers a full management services package covering all functions that can be provided centrally. Our customers can concentrate fully on manufacturing and growing their business.

pictures: Startup Factory (Kunshan) Co. Ltd.