DEPARTURES
CHINA FOCUS ON...
The vital importance of the Chinese market to UK plc was underlined in October 2013, writes Colin Ellson, when not one, not two, but three high-profile British figures made separate business trips to the People’s Republic: Chancellor George Osborne, London Mayor Boris Johnson and PM David Cameron
For the Chancellor, the aim of his recent visit was to strengthen business ties with China, and he came away with the announcement that the Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) will be involved with British firms in developing a business district around Manchester Airport. The wide-reaching project will cost £800million and create an estimated 16,000 jobs in the region. For his part, Boris Johnson was in the
country to drum up investment interest in the capital, and he signed a memorandum of understanding with his Beijing counterpart to work together on measures to improve science and the environment. David Cameron, meanwhile, claims to have sealed £6billion in trade deals and enjoyed “substantial discussions” with China’s leaders during his recent visit. The achievements and serious intent of
these visitors can only help to boost exports to China, which were worth £13.78billion in goods and services in 2011, a year-on-year rise of 17.6 per cent. Much of this is due to the determination of
UK companies to crack the often difficult Chinese market. Last year, an Essex design company, for example, won a £140,000 contract to develop a golf course in China; Andreen Ltd and Food Hospitality World
(FHW China) agreed to promote British food and drink in South China; and Chelsea FC signed a contract to open a football school in Meizhou, Guangdon province. There is significantly more potential in China,
according to UK Trade & Investment, which cites opportunities in construction, green building materials, financial services, catering and home appliances among other sectors. While the whole of China is open for business with the UK, five of its most important cities with a mix of industries represent the ultimate in prospects: Hong Kong is big in banking and financial services; the pillars of Shanghai’s economy are finance, conferences and manufacturing; the Chinese capital, Beijing, relies on the service industries, together with the financial, electronics and automobile sectors; Guangzhou is the main manufacturing hub of the Pearl River Delta; and Chengdu numbers electronics, IT and finance as motors of its economy. Travelling to the big five cities to open the
order book involves a lengthy journey. Beijing, for example, is a round-trip of 18,000km, with a journey time of 11 hours each way. All the cities in this guide enjoy direct flights
from London – and plenty of alternative one- stop options – so your travellers could soon be following in the footsteps of Cameron and co.
THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 81
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