On September 24th, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China (CCIC) met with Italian high school students from Liceo “G. Leopardi” of Macerata at the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing.
The meeting offered students an opportunity to gain a first-hand understanding of Italy-China economic and business relations, the role of Italian companies in China, and the professional opportunities that the Chinese market can offer to young people with an international outlook.
The students, who study Chinese as a foreign language, were welcomed by Elisa Messina, Acting Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, who outlined the Institute’s mission of promoting Italian language and culture in China through a range of projects and cultural activities.
Fabrizio Costa, Secretary General of the CCIC, then presented the role of the Chamber in supporting Italian companies in China, outlining the main sectors represented by the Italian business community, as well as the Chamber’s activities, services and institutional dialogue. He also provided an overview of the Chinese economic and business environment and Italy-China relations, highlighting the importance of understanding the Chinese market for young people interested in pursuing an international career.
The programme continued with a first-hand business perspective from Francesco Innocenti, General Manager of Misano Group and CCIC Board Member for North China, who shared his experience of working in China and discussed the opportunities and challenges of operating in the Chinese market, as well as the differences between working and doing business in Italy and China.
Finally, Riccardo Pelissero, CEO and Co-founder of Long Advisory and Vice-Coordinator of the CCIC Young Professionals Network, shared his experience of building his career in China, including the challenges and opportunities of establishing a business in the country. He also introduced the CCIC Young Professionals Network and its activities supporting networking, mentoring and professional development.
The event closed with a lively Q&A session, with students asking thoughtful questions and exchanging views with the speakers on studying, working and building a professional path in China.
The meeting highlighted the important role of the CCIC in connecting the Italian business community with young people and future professionals, providing them with a direct perspective on the Chinese market and creating opportunities to learn from the experiences of Italian companies and professionals operating in China.
