Businesses connect to find new chances

Opportunities abound for German and Shenzhen companies as they further deepen industrial collaboration, according to Clas Neumann, chairperson of the Board of the German Chamber of Commerce in China and head of the SAP Labs Network.

“German businesses are attracted by Shenzhen because of its dynamic. The city is one of the most dynamic places over the past decades and businesses hope again to reconnect here and to find new opportunities after the pandemic,” Neumann said in an interview at the Sino-German Economic Forum held in Shenzhen yesterday.

Clas Neumann speaks at the Sino-German Economic Forum. Photos by Zhang Yu

Germany has long built a reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse in Europe and even the world. Shenzhen, known as China’s Silicon Valley, is a city of innovation gathering many tech giants, renowned manufacturers and unicorn companies.

According to Neumann, Germany’s strength in sectors such as automation, machinery and high-end manufacturing is highly compatible with Shenzhen’s vision of building an advanced manufacturing industry.

“There can be many opportunities, let’s say, in areas such as Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing and smart supply chains. And I believe that we can work together to boost the development of these industries,” he said.

Clas Neumann receives an interview.

Neumann believes that China, the second-largest economy in the world, will continue to improve its business environment for global investment. “I’m representing the German investment community in China and investing in China is still in our plan. We need to continue to invest and collaborate in order to progress.”

Neumann is impressed that China is a frontrunner in electromobility, or e-mobility. “Without China, the world cannot become sustainable and carbon neutral,” he said, adding that technological collaboration in this field has great potential as the EU has approved a deal to phase out fossil fuel cars by 2035.

The Sino-German Economic Forum provided a platform for companies to find opportunities to invest in related fields together, according to the chairperson.

Neumann is upbeat on China’s opening-up pledge, stressing that opening-up means creating a level playing field so that every economy can work on their strengths and collaborate.

“I believe it makes a lot of sense to create this kind of equal chances for both international and local investors,” he said.