From Suzhou to Beijing, the initiative promoted by CCIC President Gianni Di Giovanni and the CCIC Board strengthened direct engagement with member companies, gathering concrete proposals to improve Chamber services, reinforce institutional advocacy and develop the Italian Business White Paper in China.
China, October 2026 – The Italian Chamber of Commerce in China (CCIC) has successfully concluded its 2026 Listening Tour, an initiative conceived by President Gianni Di Giovanni and launched by the Chamber’s new Board of Directors to place member companies at the centre of its strategic priorities.
Across five major locations – Suzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Beijing – the Listening Tour engaged approximately 133 companies, representing a broad range of industries and business profiles.
The strong participation and the quality of the discussions confirmed the importance of direct engagement with Italian businesses across China’s different regions.
Accompanied by local Board Members at each session, President Di Giovanni met directly with member companies to gain first-hand insights into their operating environment, business challenges, growth opportunities and expectations towards the Chamber.
Listening to a Changing Business Environment
The discussions highlighted the profound transformation of China’s business environment and the increasingly complex competitive landscape facing foreign companies.
Participants identified several recurring challenges, including market uncertainty, intensifying domestic competition, regulatory complexity, communication barriers and the need for more timely, reliable and practical business information.
At the same time, companies emphasized the importance of adapting to a market increasingly driven by innovation, technology, industrial capabilities and value creation.
The transition from competing primarily on price to competing on value emerged as an important strategic consideration for Italian businesses seeking to strengthen their long-term presence in China.
Despite differences in size, industry and geographical location, many companies shared common priorities: stronger institutional dialogue, improved access to relevant market intelligence, greater opportunities for business cooperation and more effective support in navigating regulatory and operational challenges.
From Individual Experiences to Collective Priorities
A central objective of the Listening Tour was to understand how the Chamber can better respond to the evolving needs of its members.
Companies called for stronger networking opportunities, more targeted sector-specific initiatives, practical business-matching activities and greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Participants also emphasized the importance of closer coordination among the Chamber’s regional chapters and stronger engagement with both Chinese authorities and Italian institutions.
These contributions will support two complementary objectives:
1) First, strengthening the Chamber’s operational effectiveness by improving existing services, developing new initiatives and ensuring that membership delivers increasingly tangible value to companies.
2) Second, reinforcing the Chamber’s institutional advocacy by translating individual business experiences into shared priorities and concrete recommendations for relevant stakeholders in Italy and China.
A Chamber Built Around Its Members
Commenting on the initiative, Gianni Di Giovanni, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, stated:
“The Chamber does not belong to its President, its Board or its management. It belongs to its member companies. Our responsibility is to listen, understand their priorities and turn their expectations into concrete action. The remarkable participation across all five cities demonstrates the willingness of Italian businesses to contribute actively to the future of our Chamber. We are operating in a China that is changing rapidly, where competitiveness increasingly depends on innovation, partnerships and the ability to create value. Our role is not simply to help companies navigate this transformation, but to strengthen their collective voice and support their long-term competitiveness. Listening is the starting point. Delivering results is our commitment.”
Towards the Italian Business White Paper in China
The insights gathered during the five sessions will provide a key foundation for the development of the CCIC Italian Business White Paper in China.
The White Paper will aim to present a structured assessment of the challenges, priorities and opportunities identified by Italian companies operating in the Chinese market.
More than an economic overview, it is intended to become a practical instrument for institutional dialogue and advocacy, translating the direct experiences of businesses into actionable recommendations.
The document will also help guide the Chamber’s future strategic planning, services and initiatives, ensuring that its activities remain closely aligned with the real needs of its members.
From Listening to Action
The conclusion of the 2026 Listening Tour represents not the end of a consultation exercise, but the beginning of a more structured and continuous dialogue between the Chamber and its business community.
By connecting companies, territories and institutions, CCIC aims to strengthen its role as a trusted platform for cooperation and an effective representative of Italian business interests in China.
The success of this initiative will ultimately be measured not by the number of meetings held, but by the Chamber’s ability to translate the priorities identified into concrete improvements and meaningful results for its members.
The CCIC extends its sincere appreciation to all participating companies, local Board Members, hosts and supporters for their active engagement, valuable contributions and commitment to strengthening the Italian business community in China.
Five cities. Many voices. One shared ambition: a stronger Chamber, built around its members.
