After two exhilarating sight seeing days in Shanghai it was back to business for us on Monday. In the early morning we were invited to Swissnex. The Shanghai office of Swissnex’ main role is that of an initiator, facilitator and coordinator between Chinese and Swiss scholars and Universities.
The ten employees are also supporting projects equally financed by the Swiss and Chinese governments. The vice-president of Swissnex Shanghai, Dr. Lan Zuo Gillet, introduced us to the tasks and hurdles she and her team encounter on a daily business when trying to get Swiss and Chinese Universities and officials on one table. After a very interesting presentation we were shown the beautiful office space Swissnex currently occupies and which will be inaugurated in August by Federal Council Pascal Couchepin.
On the way out of Shanghai we stopped at the Shanghai Museum where we visited the city development exhibition. The most fascinating object was the 300sq meter model resembling downtown Shanghai. Another part showed two pictures taken of Pudong in 1990 and 2004. The former showed grasslands, fields and swampy areas, the later the bustling skyline of Pudong’s financial district. On the second floor the future plans of the city developers were displayed with the focus on a new 500m tall sky scraper and the EXPO 2010 areas.
Before we were about to visit the German Centre in Pudong we stopped by a very posh looking restaurant, where we were lead to “VIP Room 16”. The gold coated rooms and dished were interesting to say the least, but did not diminish the taste of yet another great example of Chinese food.
At three o’clock Mr Müller welcomed us to the German Centre (GC) and showed us how the cooperation of the German banks Bayern LB and LB Baden-Württemberg helps international companies set foot in the Shanghai market. The GC not only provides office space, but also supports and consults SMEs and larger companies with their start-ups. Although the GC carries the name of our northern neighbours, they welcome clients from all over the world as can be seen when looking at their tenants list. This includes: eBay, Jura, Ticketmaster.com, Wenger, Chinese Merchants Bank and Roche to name a few.
After a long drive back to our hotel which was prolonged thanks to the horrific Shanghai congestion during rush hour, most of the students retreated to their rooms.
