October 22, 2011 - Zvi Shalgo, CEO of PTL Group was presented with the ATTA Turnaround of 2011 award at the 2nd annual ATTA conference which was held in Hong Kong on October 21-22, 2011.

The annual conference included several panels discussing the expected business environment in Asia for turnaround and transformation in 2012. A lively Q&A followed with a sense that Asia could see accelerated business and financial distress in the next two years, which would lead to enhanced opportunities for ATTA memebers.

The highlight of the event was the first ATTA Awards ceremony with a key note speech by noted turnaround expert Jean Luc Perbos.

Jean Luc Perbos presents Zvi Shalgo, CEO, PTL Group with the first ATTA award for a mid size turnaround in China

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OCTOBER 25, Zoetermeer, Netherlands – PTL Group held a seminar in co-operation with FME and EVD. The aim of this seminar was to inform Dutch companies about setting up production facilities in China. The event was attended by approximately 60 Dutch business owners and senior executives. Key note speakers consisted of  Jan Hak, president of GMV-FME, Maarten Roos, R&P China lawyers and Zvi Shalgo, CEO of PTL Group. Facilitator Harry Starren, CEO of De Baak, was in attendance as the moderator of the seminar.

To further support the seminar, a report was published on the specific topic of "Equipment Manufacturing and Machinery in China". The report focuses on the opportunities for equipment manufacturing in China and the importance of the Chinese market for the Dutch manufacturing and technological industries. The report provides tips and guidelines for setting up production in China, ranging from business structure and employment to the sensitive issues which companies must consider when operating in China.

After Harry Starren gave a brief introduction, Marije Hulshof, Director of NL EVD International, gave an update about the opportunities for Dutch SMEs in Chinese markets. PTL Group's CEO, Zvi Shalgo, discussed the history of doing business in China, emphasising that earlier foreign companies used only to source from China. These days, they don't just source or manufacture in China but also sell in the local market. Zvi Shalgo also presented current trends, such as critical timing issues and incubation support models, as well as opportunities to benefit from Chinese government funds. He suggested that Dutch SMEs should consider incubation as their first step when setting up in China, and discussed the stages of establishing a factory in China. He also presented incubation concepts and critical considerations for choosing one. Maarten Roos followed by talking about intellectual property and concerns of foreign companies.

Following the presentations, there was a panel discussion in which key note speakers, answered numerous questions from the audience. The subjects discussed ranged from HR to finance, and other issues related to setting up production facilities in China. Once the panel discussions finished, there was the opportunity for companies to engage in networking, which provided a platform for all attendees to share and discuss their ideas about business in China.

RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL, JULY 27 - The 2011 Annual Conference on Business in China held in cooperation with the Israel Export Institute and the Israel Manufacturers Association gathered more than 550 business owners, senior managers and academics in Leonardo City Tower.

Among the subjects discussed were the:

• Latest economic and commercial developments in China
• Business models applicable to the Chinese market
• The Chinese 12th five-year plan (2011 - 2015) - its principals and the implied business opportunities
• Chinese investments in Israel: source of apprehension or an opportunity?
• Credit insurance - what are the possible courses and available solutions for Israeli companies?
• Intellectual property issues - what is new in China in this aspect?

Among the Speakers were:
Avi Hefetz, director General at the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, Dan Katarivas, head of the foreign trade department at the Israel Manufacturers Association, Nili Shalev, head of supportive tools formation at the Foreign Trade Administration at the Israeli Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor, Adv. Ashok Chandrishikar, Haim Cohen, CEO at D&B - Dun and Bradstreet, Yacov Pedhatzur, CEO at Netafim Asia, Zvi Halamish, CEO of Ashra and more.

Zvi Shalgo, founder and CEO at PTL Group, participated in a panel of CEOs from Israeli companies already active in China. He presented the Changzhou Industrial Incubator Initiative (CI3) as a way of dealing with local competition, and explained how this new model helps foreign manufactures to reduce the initial investment and risks associated with entering a complex and unfamiliar market.

He also mentioned that "foreign companies now require local manufacturing investments to maintain their competitive edge, but many Israeli companies shy away from investment in manufacturing in China because of uncertainty regarding the success of sales. The new Industrial Incubator allows the beginning of production in small series and subsequent increases depending on the volume of sales in the Chinese market, without the high investment required for setting up a factory."

TEL AVIV, JULY 18 - PTL Group, headed by Zvi Shalgo, launched a new Israeli initiative in China: an industrial Incubator in Changzhou. The incubator is meant to allow Israeli and foreign companies to open manufacturing operations, and simultaneously reduce their risks of investment and market entry into China which are renowned for being complex.

The project, named China Industrial Incubator Initiative or CI³, is a partnership between two Israeli-owned companies - PTL Group and Elan Industries. Both operate in the fields of operational management and assist in developing companies and industrial enterprises in China. The plant will soon be launched by the LycoRed- Makhteshim Agan partnership.

The CI³ industrial incubator has been designed for medium-sized companies with international activities, which seek to penetrate the Chinese market. These companies have realised the urgent need for opening production sites in the largest market in the world, in terms of global growth rate.

Zvi Shalgo, CEO of PTL Group and Chairman of the Israeli Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai remarked, "Once, you could make do with marketing and sales activities in China. Today however, the trend has reversed due to changes in the Chinese economy. Now companies exporting to China encounter increasing competition from anonymous Chinese companies, which are cost effective in the global market. The Chinese government encourages high quality domestic production at a very competitive price."

Foreign companies now require local manufacturing to maintain their competitive edge, but many Israeli companies shy away from investment in manufacturing in China because of uncertainty regarding the success of sales. The new venture paves the way for rapid production and a reduced time-to-market. This means an increase in production is simpler where and when sales justify it. Investors can thereby reduce the risks of a failing investment.

He added, "Entry into the Chinese market is not simple and easy by nature. The Incubator is designed to provide conditions that will allow companies to develop industrial activities alongside logistics until their progress in the market is such that they can go out and set up a plant independently."

The Incubator complex consists of 13,000 square meters occupied by Israeli and international companies seeking to start activities in China. It is located in Changzhou, located 45 minutes away from Shanghai. Changzhou is considered one of the most attractive cities for foreign companies, in large part due to the government, which encourages foreign investment and is characterized by an open, innovative approach. The site was established with the support of the local administration of Changzhou, which has sponsored the project and sees it as a unique model in promoting foreign companies.