CCBC MEMBER SERVICES
At the Canada China Business Council, membership means business.
CCBC is a non-governmental, results-focused business council that is committed to your organization’s bilateral success in business, trade, and investment. We offer a range of both universal as well as custom-built services to our Canadian and Chinese corporate members, including on-the-ground China market support for Canadian businesses; government policy and regulatory analysis; and one-stop-shop Business Incubation Center packages.
Universal Membership Benefits
When your company becomes a member of CCBC, your membership includes a number of benefits:
- Custom Bilateral Business Guidance
Members receive direct support and guidance from your local Chapter Director who, in turn, has the support of CCBC’s Directors in five Canadian offices and two in China. Our Chapter Directors and their teams are experienced and knowledgeable in Canada-China business, and provide timely, relevant advice on market entry, operations, investing, and best practices.
- Member-only Events
Meetings and seminars with business leaders, key government officials, and successful entrepreneurs are often offered exclusively to CCBC members. These meetings are arranged to provide members with private discussions on business experiences, strategic guidance, and critical market information.
- Public Events – Conferences, Meetings, and Seminars
CCBC members have preferred access to conferences, meetings, and seminars that are organized throughout the year by each of our seven offices in Canada and China. These events focus on a variety of essential bilateral business issues including business development and strategy; overviews on new or revised laws, regulations, and policies; and the latest trends and business opportunities. Every event offers attendees time to network with others who are involved in Canada-China businesses. CCBC members receive reduced ticket and table prices to these events.
- Business Incubation Centres
Members have access to shared boardrooms, office space, and other resources in our Beijing, Shanghai, and Montreal offices. Additional fees may apply. Please see information below.
- Sponsorships
To increase exposure in both markets and demonstrate commitment to the bilateral relationship, CCBC offers sponsorship opportunities exclusive to our member companies. These events attract top executives, senior government officials and thought leaders from both countries. For example, our AGM Business Forum and Dinner hosts senior government representatives, board directors, C-suite executives and entrepreneurs. Becoming an event sponsor gives members exposure and prominence to these targeted audiences.
- CCBC’s China Daily Business News (CDBN)
Members automatically receive CCBC’s daily news service Monday to Friday that highlights the top and most current stories of the day in business, trade, and investment. Any employee in a member organization is eligible to subscribe. Over 1,000 active businesspeople receive the CDBN. Advertising opportunities are available with special discounts for CCBC members.
- Bilateral Cultural Training
CCBC has developed several training programs to prepare companies to interact effectively in an unfamiliar culture. Our training includes modules on meetings and negotiation, corporate social responsibility, and navigating corporate structures. In Canadian-Chinese commercial engagement, strong relationships are the building blocks of good business in China and should not be overlooked or underestimated. CCBC training educates members on essential business and social etiquette, cultural history, ethics, and gift giving. Additional fees may apply.
CCBC Member Services
Canadian Companies and Investors Entering China
Launching and maintaining momentum in China is key for organizations investing in China. These companies include exporters, investors, manufacturers, service providers, educators and more. CCBC offers practical solutions for Canadian organizations entering China that are designed to meet your needs. We are active in your success.
Individual Consultations
One-to-one company-specific consultations form the basis of CCBC member services. We will dive in to understand the unique needs of your organization and identify the opportunities and threats in your China venture. CCBC’s on-the-ground business knowledge allows our directors to work with members and uncover growth and development options while identifying related advantages and disadvantages.
Government Relations
CCBC has extensive experience working with various levels of the Chinese government, regulators, and SOEs. We can unravel the complexity of these structures to give you a firm understanding of their inner workings and how to navigate their various layers. Preparing for executive meetings and submitting applications and licensing requests can be confusing. CCBC can lead you through the maze as we have done with scores of other businesses.
Partners and Channels
The right strategic partners and channels are essential to your business success. CCBC can work with you to promote your product or technology platform to Chinese investors. We connect businesspeople who want to build dynamic and mutually beneficial investment relationships. Our network of investors is seeking Canadian companies to develop, localize, and to tap into the Chinese domestic market. Through our investor-driven events and connections to industry associations, CCBC can coach you through these essential relationship development processes.
Delegations and Missions
CCBC has organized many high-level bilateral events between Canada-China including state dinners, large scale business missions, and gate-to-gate delegation services. We can provide you with logistics, operations, and administrative support in China and Canada. We have:
- full-scope logistics services for inbound and outbound delegations including direction on strategic meetings and site visits, government connections, and all associated activities;
- initiated dozens of B2B interactions for visiting companies across multiple sectors and industries;
- organized numerous large-scale events including multi-panel business conferences, outdoor fairs and pavilions, live entertainment and gala dinners, as well as private meetings with key investors and potential stakeholders.
Additional fees may apply.
Chinese Companies and Investors Entering Canada
Chinese companies entering Canada take many forms, such as greenfield investment and technology partnerships, and businesses ranging from financial institutions to airlines. CCBC is a critical partner when entering Canada and these companies benefit from CCBC membership through
- notifications on existing and upcoming investment opportunities;
- introductions to strategic partners;
- expertise in product localization;
- connections to CCBC’s network of professionals, government officials and local service providers
- our knowledge of the experiences of other Chinese companies that have entered Canada and the challenges they faced.
CCBC Business Incubation Centres – Beijing, Shanghai, Montreal, Toronto
CCBC provides member companies with a wide range of services to assist them as they establish themselves and set up their presence in China. This can be a game-changer for companies that do not have a formal entity in China. CCBC services include:
- Securing local employees and staff: CCBC can assist in the creation and dissemination of job descriptions, review resumes, and pre-screen candidates. This is offered in Chinese and English.
- Onboarding new staff: Your new hires can work out of CCBC’s offices, which are conveniently located in business hubs in Beijing and Shanghai.
- HR activities: We can coordinate with your company to deliver HR services in accordance with Chinese employment laws. CCBC can also make payroll arrangements domestically while salaries can be settled in Canada.
- Office space: CCBC can provide furnished, business-ready offices and cubicles in our Beijing, Shanghai and Montreal offices.
- Social environment: The incubation centre provides a more agreeable work environment for your staff than they would experience in an isolated office with no social interaction and support.
The incubation centre model accelerates Canadian companies’ integration into the market by reducing start-up costs and barriers to entry. It’s an effective and more flexible approach prior to establishing legal corporate entity in China. Additional fees apply.
CCBC Service Case Studies
E-commerce readiness?
A successful consumer goods manufacturer selling in North American retail channels was considering an online presence in China. CCBC provided an in-depth e-commerce market report on their products and competitors in China. CCBC scanned multiple sales channels and provided reports and analysis including sales volumes, performance, marketing tactics, price points and more, which gave this SME information to analyze their status and determine whether they could fulfill orders and maintain profitability. CCBC then ran due diligence checks on several trusted partner firms before the firm selected a online market associate organization.
Hiring without an entity?
CCBC delivered a full hiring package to a medical diagnostics company based in BC for its first China-based employee. We advised on crafting a job description, posted the role on multiple channels, scanned resumes, and offered guidance on local pay ranges. Once the successful candidate was identified, CCBC hired him/her into our local office and settled the salary in RMB in China, with the BC company paying CCBC directly in CAD in Toronto. Without the assistance of CCBC, this three-month process could take almost a year to complete. Further, the company would have to establish an entity in China before being able to hire and pay the individual.
Government relations troubles?
A major Canadian retailer that was expanding in China had challenges securing permits for its new brick and mortar space in three cities. CCBC leveraged our reputation and network to contact government ministries and officers in each area and expedited the permit process. CCBC successfully moved the needle forward on this costly and challenging issue for this publicly-traded firm, and the paperwork was processed shortly thereafter.