VASEK’s Managing Director Pekka Haapanen and Senior Business Advisor Lasse Pohjala acted as hosts when the leaders of Beijing E-Town visited Vaasa on June 27. The aim of the visit was to promote cooperation between companies located in Vaasa and in Beijing. The Chinese visitors were interested in environmentally friendly and energy saving solutions, and it is exactly the companies of the Vaasa energy cluster that possess the skills and knowledge in these.

The meeting participants were given a presentation on the energy cluster of Vaasa and the EnergyWeek event.

Haapanen and Pohjala said that they look forward to cooperation with the Chinese with great interest. Pohjala informed the guests about EnergyVaasa and its important role for the Finnish export. He also told them about EnergyWeek, the international networking event for companies in the energy sector. Efforts are being made to import the event into Beijing next year.

– The goal of EnergyVaasa is to develop sustainable energy solutions that the whole world can benefit from, Pohjala said.

The guests stated that now it is their responsibility to help Finnish companies succeed in the Chinese market. VASEK was thanked for its excellent work in promoting export issues, as now both Chinese and Vaasa companies know more about each other.

Localize the message in order to stand out from the rest in the Chinese market

The Chinese guests gave a presentation on the Beijing Economic Technological Development Area, the E-town. The area has residential apartments, a range of services, business premises of a great number of companies and excellent traffic connections. A large number of global companies operate in the area, among them Mercedes-Bentz, attracting professional workers from around the world.

According to Shi Wei, Vice General Manager of Beijing E-town International Investment & Development Co, Beijing is a good place to further advance the energy sector. He says that Vaasa has a great influence on Europe, similar to the one of Beijing’s on China.

The energy market in China is massive and many countries wish to become part of it. There are business opportunities but your marketing has to stand out from the rest. Marketing projects have to be carried out in a way that works in Beijing and it is important to localize your message.

Pekka Haapanen, Lasse Pohjala, Xu Hui and Zhang Luli signed a memorandum of understanding on an E-town work station in Northern Europe.

Memorandum of understanding on E-town work station in Northern Europe

To conclude the visit, Haapanen, Pohjala, Xu Hui (Vice General Manager, Beijing Mobile E-town Co) and Zhang Luli (Deputy Secretary in General, ZGC Alliance) signed a memorandum of understanding on an E-town work station in Northern Europe.

– Presence is an important element in building cooperation. E-town sees that Vaasa is central in creating networks with the energy cluster. Another important factor is Vaasa’s good contacts with the other Nordic countries and direct connections with Sweden, Pohjala says.

The group of persons representing the Vaasa region in the meeting also included CFO Dag Sandås from The Switch, Managing Director Mika Konu from the Technology Centre Oy Merinova Ab, Municipal Manager of Korsholm Rurik Ahlberg and Dean of Faculty of Technology at the University of Vaasa Erkki Antila.

The meeting concluded with the participants arranging themselves for a photo