An international hotspot for Chinese companies

Hangzhou Cobetter chooses Milan as their European hub to access EMEA markets

China is increasingly looking at Milan as the optimal destination for the international expansion of national businesses towards western markets. What is more important is that the city is not only regarded as a logistic node for the distribution of goods, but also as an actual R&D hub thanks to its outstanding potential for innovation.

As of the beginning of September, another player has joined the family of Asian companies that have elected Milan as the launch pad for their EMEA expansion: Hangzhou Cobetter Filtration Equipment Co., LTD. The company is headquartered in Hangzhou, a major Chinese industrial Centre 202km south-west of Shanghai, and is one of the leading filtration equipment developers and manufacturers in China, producing PES, PVDF, Nylon 66, PTFE membranes, filter cartridges and disposable capsule filters – with applications to the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical, semiconductor, chemical and beverage sectors. To give a sense of the company’s relevance in the Chinese economy it is worth mentioning that, within the domestic market, 90% of pharmaceutical companies, 80% of food and beverage companies, 90% of microelectronic companies along with many multinational chemical and medical device companies utilize Cobetter products and solutions. But the company is not just a leading player in the national market: the high-quality solutions developed by Cobetter are in line with the highest international standards in the field of filtration for the biochemical and food & beverage sectors.

The recently established Italian branch offers a broad range of innovative performance products and validation services that enable EMEA customers’ improvement and success in research, development and production of food & beverage, medical, industrial and pharmaceutical applications, potentially allowing Cobetter to become a leading company in the global filtration arena. At the same time, the Chinese customers will largely benefit from the innovation that will spawn from the integration of the company’s operations with the thriving local biotech ecosystem. This investment is particularly strategic for two relevant implications: firstly, it confirms once again the increasing role of Milan as a pivotal node for the EMEA markets, thanks to its favorable location, its infrastructure and its prolific business environment; secondly, it brings a renowned specialized supplier of high-quality solutions for the pharmaceutical, chemical and biotech sector into the growing local life sciences industry, thus providing an additional boost to a local sector that is expected to become one of the leading players on the global competitive arena in the years to come.

Invest in Lombardy, together with its partner legal firm Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners, has assisted Cobetter throughout the establishment process, by providing information support to their business plan. The law firm, which is highly recognized for its long-standing experience in providing legal assistance to investors from China through its established China Desk, supported the investor in the setting up of the company, as well as providing legal consultancy to guarantee a smooth landing to the newly established Italian branch of Cobetter in a context that is different from the Chinese one. The effectiveness of this Public-Private Partnership and Cobetter’s decision of Milan as their gateway to EMEA markets highlight once again the nature of Lombardy as an ideal destination for doing business.

Credits: Invest in Lombardy, Hangzhou Cobetter Filtration Equipment Co., Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners