Discover Germany | Interview | xxxxx
Connecting European and Asian Partners:
Berlin as centre point for digital business The Berlin Asia-Pacific Weeks (APW) have become Europe’s most important dialogue forum for discussing questions of our economic and political future, especially with partners from the Asian continent. Founded 20 years ago with the intention to establish relationships between inexperienced Berlin companies and the Asian market, today the main focus is on extending co-operations and supporting start-ups. TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN | PHOTOS: APW
In comparison to many other events focussing on Asia, the single meetings and activities at APW are organised by different participants and partners.“Celebrating our 20th anniversary this year we put the focus on digitalisation,” says Dr. Rainer Seider, head of Unit European and International Co-operation at the Berlin senate and project director APW. Of course, when it comes to digitalisation every Asian country is different – as are the European. 22 | Issue 50 | May 2017
None the less there are certain trends to be observed: “To put it really simply, digitalisation in Asia, especially in China, is thought from a customer’s point of view, while in Germany companies mostly put a focus on digitalising their own production line and only in the course of that connect with suppliers and customers.” When it comes to business 4.0, German companies are therefore more digitalised than their Chinese counterparts. On the other hand,
says Dr. Seider, is the use of digital devices like smartphones far more widespread in Asian cities than in German ones.“In China, you can pay nearly everywhere without cash using AliPay or WeChat online or in the supermarket,” explains Dr. Seider. “Customers in Asia are far more open towards digital payment solutions or digital communication. Japan already speaks of Society 5.0 instead of Industry 4.0.” Digitalisation: A stronger focus on people Societies have come far more into focus instead of simply concentrating on business alone. So, when speaking of digitalisation in Europe and Asia, two very different cultures meet and that is something the APW tries to teach on both sides. This becomes even more important when