Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai


The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai is a nonprofit organization and the only Canadian chamber of commerce in China. Its mission is to support Canadian businesses in East China by helping businesses develop their networks and marketing opportunities as well as to cultivate a thriving Canadian community in Shanghai. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai is located at the Jing`An Kerry Centre in the Jing`An district of Shanghai. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is led by 12 member board of directors. The Executive Director and the staff of the Chamber are responsible for the daily operations of the Chamber. Hélène Larochelle is the current Executive Director.

History

Originally called the Canadian Business Forum, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai was formed in 1996 by a group of locally based Canadian companies and entrepreneurs. In 2001, the CBF formed a partnership with the Canada China Business Council and was renamed the CCBC Shanghai Chapter. In the ensuing years, the CCBC Shanghai Chapter worked with the CCBC to develop the Canadian Business community in Shanghai and the Yangtze Delta Region at large while maintaining its operational independence and its identity as a non-profit business organisation. In June 2008, it was resolved and voted by the membership of the CCBC Shanghai Chapter to separate from the CCBC and establish the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. On June 18, 2008, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce was officially inaugurated in name.

Mission

From the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai website: "The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai is the pre-eminent organization supporting Canadian business and community interests. CanCham Shanghai informs and promotes Canadian interests in Eastern China and fosters connections within the Canadian business community with their Chinese counterparts."
Membership of CanCham Shanghai consists of Canada-China joint ventures and wholly owned Canadian companies, ranging from some of the largest and best-recognized corporations to medium and small-sized enterprises.

Board of directors

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is led by twelve member board of directors, which consists of eleven elected directors and one ex officio director. The ex officio director must be the Senior Trade Commissioner of the Canadian Consulate General in Shanghai. The directors are either Canadian MNCs' representatives or Canadian entrepreneurs running their own business in East China. Board members are responsible for forming and driving the policies as well as providing guidance on all the activities of the Chamber.
The Consul General is also the honorary president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Board members 2009

CanCham's primary goal is to facilitate relations between the Canadian and Chinese community in Shanghai, and accordingly they host many events throughout the year, as well as support various inter-chamber functions in Shanghai. These events are both business-related and social in nature, and include workshops, seminars, conferences, mixers and networking events, and 'Canuck Connection' social events. Some notable annual community events include: