The 4th Pilot SMEs Training Workshop was held on 15th and 16th of April 2010 in the city of Shanghai, with the support of China Audio Industry Association and China Semi-conductor Industry Association. The workshop gathered more than 30 participants, including representatives from the project pilot companies in the Shanghai and Jiangsu regions as well as local companies in the field of PCB, semi-conductors, electronic audio equipment as well as environmental technology suppliers.

The agenda of the 2-days workshop consisted of detailed presentations by partners and experts on eco-efficiency, OHS and CSR measures compiled in the project’s Standards Guidelines and Conformity Model concept, interactive exercises and an Action Plan brainstorming session. Held at the Pine City Hotel of Shanghai, the event was kicked-off with a welcoming speech by Mr. Chen Lixin, Secretary General of China Audio Industry Association. The European project manager Mr. Igor Darbo then gave a comprehensive introduction of the project latest status and answered questions raised by companies’ representatives regarding the expected commitments and benefits entailed by their participation in the capacity building programme. Observer companies were indicated how to register for joining in the project activities.

On behalf of Deutsche Telekom, the project associate and an industry leader in terms of CSR, Mr. Zhang Zhengqing, Head of Market Research at DT China, introduced Sustainable Supply Chain Management at Deutsche Telekom and the company’s strategy for Corporate Responsibility, including compliance check-list instruments such as the E-TASC (Electronics - Tool for Accountable Supply Chains). Detailed presentations on eco-efficiency were delivered by project expert Karsten Schischke from the Fraunhofer Institute on Reliability and Microintegration who introduced the state-of-play of EU legal and regulatory requirements for EE sector, market incentives for eco-design, and an eco-efficiency comprehensive toolbox for SMEs. Key challenges of OHS management and a methodological framework tailored for Chinese SMEs consisting of case studies and learnt lessons of OHS and CSR practices in China and abroad were presented by Business for Social Responsibility expert Mr. Wei Dong Zhou.

Representing the pilot company Shanghai Boshi Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, Mr. Luo Yunhua gave a presentation on the enterprise’s energy efficiency and resource management status. In his capacity as General Manager, Mr. Luo also explained key health and safety challenges facing his company and expressed Boshi’s expectations in terms of further technical assistance from the project as well as their commitment to actively participating in further project activities e.g. assessment and audit. Ms. Tao Li from Shanghai Hua Hong NEC Electronics Co., Ltd also introduced the current status of her company’s environmental and OHS management system and challenges. Following the pilot SME’s introduction, a Q&A session and free discussion with the experts panel went on with a view to sketching out possible Action Plans and most suited improvement measures for each SME in the areas of eco-efficiency, compliance with EU/Chinese WEEE and RoHS, CSR reporting, etc.