BEIJING, July 7 -- In business, connections are everything and few organizations are better connected in the fast changing corporate landscape of Shanghai than the various chambers of commerce in this city.

    "Knowing the right person is very valuable in Shanghai," British Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ian Crawford says when asked to describe the multi-faceted role chambers play in Shanghai.

    "We (BritCham) provide a source of connections and it's a bit more than networking - we can put people together who may have experienced the same issue or problem," Crawford says.

    "Business connections and information are at the core of our activities."

    Keeping our readers connected with all the latest news, views, events and issues in the expat business community will be the focus of the Shanghai Daily's new Expat Business page.

    Along with news from the various chambers of commerce in Shanghai, Expat Business will cover the latest happenings in the more than 50 consulates in Shanghai.

    News from the various national trade and business councils and the industries they promote will also be part of Shanghai Daily's extensive expat business coverage.

    From high powered business visits, to providing the latest information on China's changing regulatory frameworks, from charity balls to social evenings, Shanghai's chambers provide a diverse range of services to their members.

    Along with BritCham, the American Chamber of Commerce is the longest established chamber in Shanghai.

    AmCham Shanghai President Brenda Foster says the organization is the largest and fastest growing American Chamber in the Asia Pacific region, with more than 3,800 members.

    With the world increasingly focusing on China and its incredible economic development, chambers across Shanghai are experiencing strong membership growth and a changing membership base.

    While multinational companies were some of the first business pioneers in China, and previously made up a sizable proportion of a chamber's membership, chambers are now increasingly helping small and medium-sized enterprises work in China.

    The types of industries member companies are involved in have also diversified dramatically from manufacturing connected activities to industries such as financial and legal services, information technology, advertising and telecommunications.

    BritCham now also runs some events in Chinese and English.

    While BritCham members used to be almost solely expats, the increasing number of Chinese in senior management positions in member companies has also changed the make-up of membership, Crawford pointed out. "If you go back five or seven years, it was very much an expat membership, but we quite deliberately have sought to bring in Chinese nationals who are working in member companies," he says.

    Along with providing the latest economic analysis and regulatory and legal information, chambers are also focusing on the burgeoning area of corporate social responsibility in China.

    "AmCham Shanghai implements an extensive CSR program that focuses on community outreach, corporate governance, employee health and safety, environmental sustainability and philanthropy," Foster says.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)