Event Recap | MEWG Company Visit at Zoppas

After several months, the Mechanical Engineering Working Group (MEWG) of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC) has returned to organize company visits!

On November 17th, 2022, the second company visit of the year was held at Zoppas Industries Jiaxing Ltd. Overall, 30 participants joined the networking event, which was composed of an informative session and a guided tour of the plant. 

These initiatives provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the business experiences and perspectives of successful Italian companies based in China. Networking activities such as these allow various companies to share information on key factors affecting potential success of an organization.

The first part of the event was characterized by an informative presentation, which detailly advised participants about fundamental aspects of the concerned company. Jet Cui, Managing Director Zoppas Asia, Simone Mazzer, Industrial & Commercial Heaters Sales Director at Zoppas Industries Hangzhou, Andrea Vit, CFO Asia-Pacific Region at Zoppas Industries, and Giorgio Dam, Sales Support Engineer at SIPA Machinery Co Ltd. Hangzhou, described and exposed the Zoppas Group companies’ vision, mission, structure and business model.

A special mention is given to Alessandra Palumbo, Commercial Consul at the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, and Cinzia Palumbo, Deputy Trade Commissioner at the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Shanghai, who took part and contributed to the discussion. 

Among the speakers, Emilio Cassanelli, Vice Coordinator of the Mechanical Engineering Working Group and China VP of Industry Technology Suzhou Co., Ltd., who thanked Zoppas and all the companies present, providing an update on the CICC MEWG Activities, especially the cooperation with CICC MEWG Members and Tongji University. To know more about this cooperation click here!

The meeting ended with an animated and interactive Q&A session coordinated by Mr Cassanelli, during which the participants showed interest in the company and enthusiasm in meeting again and talking about business in person.

The presentation was followed by a guided tour at Zoppas Industries Jiaxing Ltd., during which several technical aspects were exposed and communicated to the involved audience.

This plant was established in 2021, involving 310 employees, covering a surface area of 8,600 square meters. The plant entails advanced equipment and technology, and staff’s solid competence provides professional heating solutions for the Asian market.

Zoppas Industries provides smart heating solutions contributing to the foundations for a sustainable living environment. The concept of sustainability is at the heart of the entire value chain implemented by the company, where customers come first and the main goal is to provide them with the best available solutions, fast response, and problem-solving excellent services.

The company is a reliable global supplier for the design, manufacture and sale on the world market of heating elements and systems for both domestic and industrial use. Since its foundation in 1963, the company has maintained a positively growing trend. Starting from Italy, the company expanded through Europe and in November 2000 a joint venture agreement was signed in China.

Despite the COVID pandemic, the company is largely investing in China, confident of a successful and favourable future and supported by a substantially positive year in terms of revenues and profits.

We would like to thank all the authorities and attendees that made this day a success. The MEWG is working on a rich program for 2023, stay tuned!

About the Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone 

Adjacent to Shanghai and Hangzhou, Jiaxing is located in the center of Yangtze River Delta Region. Due to its geographical advantages, convenient transportation, strong industry basis, diversified innovation capacities, wealthy and stable social environment, Jiaxing become an ideal place for living, working and investment.

As a major part of the city, Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone is a typical urban EDZ. First approved by Zhejiang Province as a Province level EDZ, it was established in August 1992. And has been upgraded as a state-level EDZ in March 2010 by the state council. Totally planning area is 110 square kilometers.

JXEDZ has accommodated 680 foreign-funded enterprises including 39 Fortune 500 members. With the cooperative development of manufacturing, modern service and high-tech industries, JXEDZ has formed 4 leading industries including auto parts, equipment manufacturing, high-end food processing and electronic information. At present, there are 6 Italian enterprises in the JXEDZ, including Zoppas Industries, Ognibene Power, ISU meat product, Michielan ice cream, Ocme Packaging and Vailog Logistics.

JXEDZ ranked No.19 in the evaluation on comprehensive development of nation-level EDZ in 2021 by the Ministry of Commerce, for the evaluation on attracting foreign investment in five single evaluations, JXEDZ ranked No.8.

嘉兴位于长三角经济圈中心腹地，紧邻沪杭，区位条件优越，产业基础良好，创新资源丰富，社会富裕安定，是宜居宜业的投资热土。

嘉兴经济技术开发区位于嘉兴市主城区，是一个典型的城市型开发区，创建于1992年8月，是浙江省政府首批批准建设的省级经济开发区，2010年3月，被国务院批准升级为国家级经济技术开发区，控制面积110平方公里。

目前全区已经累计引进超过680家外商投资企业，其中世界500强企业39家，已经形成了汽车零部件、装备制造、高端食品和电子信息等四大制造业主导产业，并形成先进制造业、现代服务业和智慧产业协同发展趋势。目前区内拥有意大利企业6家，包括意大利佐帕斯、意大利欧尼贝耐、意大利ISU肉制品、意大利米开朗冰激凌、意大利奥克梅包装和意大利维龙物流。

在商务部2021年国家级经济技术开发区综合发展水平开合评价工作中，嘉兴经济技术开发区综合排名第19名，利用外资排名第8名。