Today (March 16th), a supporting event of the Shanghai Global Investment Promotion Conference—the 2026 China-Europe Enterprise Exchange and Matching Event (Italian Enterprise Session)—was held at Shanghai Silicon Alley.
The Investment Promotion Office of Changning District delivered a welcome speech and introduced the business environment of Changning. Shanghai has long been one of the primary investment destinations in China for Italian companies. As an important gateway for Shanghai’s opening-up, Changning has actively engaged in multifaceted cooperation between China and Italy. Notable enterprises such as RINA, Amplifon (China) Investment, and Chiesi Pharmaceuticals have established roots and flourished here. We look forward to welcoming more companies to Changning to share in the development opportunities brought by strategic capacity enhancement, industrial transformation and upgrading, and the optimization of the business environment.
The Shanghai SME Development Service Center introduced the cultivation of Shanghai’s “Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative” enterprises and internationalized services. Currently, Shanghai is continuously nurturing the “Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative” enterprise community, promoting the deep integration of innovation chains, industrial chains, and global resources. It is hoped that enterprises from both China and Italy can explore cooperation potential and achieve mutual benefits through in-depth, face-to-face exchanges.
As an important communication bridge between China and Italy, the China-Italy Innovation Center introduced Italy’s industrial development and cooperation opportunities. Italy possesses prominent advantages in three key areas: high-end handmade crafts, pharmaceutical chemicals and precision instruments, and specialty agriculture and culinary culture, which strongly complement the Chinese market. Both sides look forward to achieving more cooperation in the future, such as promoting the digitalization of Florentine craftsmanship, collaborating with Changning in urban renewal projects, facilitating opportunities for young artists and designers from Changning to study in Florentine workshops, and introducing Italian craft workshops, among others.
During the roadshow session, a group of high-quality Italian companies in green energy, digital transformation, and cybersecurity, along with representatives from several Chinese multinational corporations and “Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative” enterprises, discussed specific cooperation scenarios and scheduled follow-up exchanges.
Prior to the meeting, the Italian delegation visited Shanghai Silicon Alley. Mr. Omar Bertolla, the head of ALERT SRL, shared his impressions: “This district in Changning beautifully blends Western culture with traditional Chinese culture. Such integration helps attract more attention and deeper understanding. This visit to China is expected to further expand the supply chain, facilitate cooperation in green energy and the digital economy, and scale up the industry.”
The event was attended by heads of relevant departments, including the District Development and Reform Commission, District Commerce Commission, District Science and Technology Commission, District Data Bureau, and Huayang Road Sub-district Office.
