On 22 March the service center for SME company support in China was officially opened in the presence of Bernard Pierre (Ambassador of Belgium), Koen Allaert (Managing Director Flanders Investment & Trade – FIT), Siegfried Verheijke (chief representative FIT Beijing) and Zheng Rong (Public relations officer Kingsphere International Business Services Centre).
The Center has the support of the Embassy of Belgium and FIT Beijing and acts like an “incubator” for SME’s from the Benelux. Already three Flemish SME’s are using it and soon four more will join.

It is located in Jianguomenwai Diplomatic Compound 9-1-33, 100600 Beijing
Setting up a meaningful service center for SME is a challenge. I have been asked by several countries to make a proposal but we declined. Without proper subsidies the investment in rental, staff and equipment cannot be recovered as SME cannot afford substantial fees that would at least give some profit to the investor. The Kingsphere initiative is a good start. The location and setup are generally speaking nice and convenient – for foreigners. But for local Chinese there are difficulties to enter the diplomatic compound. The challenge is also for the Center to provide convenient services (Internet, telephone, copier, interpreters, etc.). All not that cheap in Beijing… if you want to do it well.
Some countries showed good examples, such as France (Région Rhône Alpes – in Shanghai) and Germany (The German Center in the Landmark).