Jackson & Frank at CIIE 2026: Connecting Chinese Businesses with European Opportunities
Jackson & Frank showcased its European market expertise, strengthened its partnerships, and shared practical insights into cross-border employment and local operations at the 9th China International Import Expo.
- Expo
- November 5-10, 2026
- J&F session
- Europe Theme Day, Nov 7
- Location
- CIIE, Shanghai
At the Global Service Providers Joint Booth
From November 5 to 10, 2026, Jackson & Frank (J&F) took part in the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, joining the Global Service Providers Joint Booth as part of Jing'an District's Global Service Provider Program.
The event brought together international businesses, professional service providers and industry leaders to explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration and global expansion.
On November 7, during Europe Theme Day, J&F hosted a dedicated session bringing together European expertise and first-hand experience from a Chinese company expanding internationally.
From market entry to building local teams in Europe
Pawel Michalkiewicz delivered a keynote on the evolving trends of Chinese business expansion into Europe, focusing on local workforce strategies, employment structures and compliance considerations.
As more Chinese companies move beyond exporting products to establishing local operations, building the right team has become a critical factor in long-term success. Pawel highlighted the Netherlands as a strategic gateway to Europe, offering strong international connectivity, logistics infrastructure and access to multilingual talent.
How workforce needs evolve after market entry
European expansion usually moves through three people stages.
Landing
Testing the market
- Representative office mindset
- A few key hires or secondees
- Focus on sales, partners and market learning
Need: Speed, low fixed cost, compliant start
Building
Creating local capability
- First local managers and specialists
- Payroll, benefits and policies become visible
- Country differences begin to matter
Need: Better structure, employer brand and control
Scaling
Operating across several countries
- Multiple entities or multi-country teams
- Higher compliance exposure and cost complexity
- Retention and leadership become priorities
Need: Sustainable governance and consistency
Roles that matter most in the first 6-18 months
- Country management
- Sales and business development
- Finance and payroll coordination
- HR and compliance
- Technical or customer support
He also emphasised the importance of balancing local hiring with employee relocation from China, while navigating differences in employment laws, payroll regulations and business practices across European markets.
Jackson & Frank and Botree sign a strategic HR services partnership
A key highlight of the event was the strategic partnership signing ceremony between Jackson & Frank and Botree, a Chinese company specialising in green recycling and sustainable technologies.
The partnership marks a further step in strengthening cooperation on international workforce management, cross-border employment compliance and local HR operations. The collaboration reflects J&F's commitment to supporting internationally expanding businesses with practical, locally informed HR solutions.
Through its European expertise and international service network, J&F will support Botree's global expansion with:
Botree's experience expanding into Europe
Arrow Zhang shared insights from Botree's international expansion journey, highlighting the workforce and operational challenges faced by technology-driven businesses entering European markets.
The presentation explored the importance of recruiting local talent, managing cross-border employee assignments, adapting to local employment requirements and building sustainable operating structures.
Arrow also discussed how flexible employment models, such as EOR, can help businesses establish an initial presence in new markets before transitioning to local entities as operations mature. The case study offered a practical view of how Chinese companies can align workforce planning with business growth while managing local employment complexity.
Two perspectives, one challenge: making European expansion work
“Beyond Market Entry: The Real Challenges of Expanding into Europe”
From the European service provider's perspective, Pawel and Maarten shared insights into local employment environments, workforce planning and the role of professional HR partners in supporting international businesses.
From the Chinese company's perspective, Arrow discussed the realities of establishing overseas teams, managing international employees and adapting to local business environments.
Successful international expansion requires more than entering a new market. It requires the right people, compliant employment structures and long-term local operational capabilities.
Strengthening connections between China and Europe
CIIE 2026 gave Jackson & Frank the opportunity to engage with Chinese businesses, international partners and professional service providers, while further strengthening its presence in the Chinese market.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, Jackson & Frank provides tailored global workforce solutions, including Employer of Record (EOR), Payroll, Global Mobility, Employment Compliance and HR Strategy. Since establishing its legal entity in Shanghai in 2025, J&F has continued to develop its local presence and connect Chinese companies with European HR expertise and international service capabilities.
Looking ahead, Jackson & Frank remains committed to supporting businesses expanding across Europe and beyond, helping them build compliant, effective and sustainable international teams.
Jackson & Frank founders at CIIE 2026
In conversation at the GSPP Joint Booth
Ready to build your team in Europe?
From market entry to scaling operations, we help Chinese companies hire, pay and manage teams across Europe with compliant employment structures and local expertise.
- Employer of RecordHire in Europe before setting up your own entity.
- PayrollCompliant salaries, tax and statutory benefits.
- Global mobilityWork permits and relocation from China to Europe.
- Employment complianceStay aligned with local labour laws in every market.