James & Wells IP Specialist, Johnathan Chen, has been invited by the Bureau Chief for the Henan Administration for Industry and Commerce, Mr Wang Ming-Sheng, to visit him in Zhenzhou in January 2014.
As part of the visit, Mr Wang has offered to introduce Johnathan to local Chinese companies, importers and distributors within a variety of industries. This provides opportunities for New Zealand exporters and importers to collaborate with reputable local Chinese companies.
Mr Wang, who is also the Commissioner for Trade Marks in Henan, will introduce Johnathan to local intellectual property1 and law firms, as well as the local intellectual property authorities.
Government authorities are said to be the best source of contacts for foreign SMEs in China, as they are more likely to govern and regulate the contacts which they introduce to the foreign companies.
For this reason, Johnathan will act as a representative on behalf of a number of New Zealand companies wishing to do business in China.
Johnathan frequently travels to China and works closely with those James & Wells clients that have an interest within the greater China region.
As a fluent speaker of Mandarin, Johnathan will be happy to meet with clients wishing to build their contacts in China, with the potential for him to become your representative.
Johnathan will also have the chance to ask Mr Wang specific intellectual property queries relating to the Chinese market.
Footnotes
1Refers to the ownership of an intangible thing - the innovative idea behind a new technology, product, process, design or plant variety, and other intangibles such as trade secrets, goodwill and reputation, and trade marks. Although intangible, the law recognises intellectual property as a form of property which can be sold, licensed, damaged or trespassed upon. Intellectual property encompasses patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.