Region’s leaders discuss trade opportunities with China

Business leaders came together at an international forum hosted by Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School to explore trade opportunities with China.

High ranking officials from organisations including the Chinese Embassy, UK Government, British Council, China Britain Business Council, Newcastle City Council, UKTI, Newcastle Gateshead Initiative and universities spoke at the North East China Business forum.

The event, at the Civic Centre in Newcastle, also marked the launch of the 9^th China UK Entrepreneurship Challenge competition – an international drive to encourage UK businesses and venture capitalists to support student start-up businesses looking to build commercial relationships in China.

Mr SuNan Jiang, Minister Counsellor for Science and Technology at the Chinese Embassy, made a welcome address and discussed technological advancements in China before talking about the many overseas trade opportunities with the UK.

Doctor Nick Rousseau, Head of International Innovation Strategy at the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) discussed international innovation partnerships, while Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council, talked on how vital it is for the region to work collaboratively with China.

Other key speakers included Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, Professor Kevin Kerrigan, Executive Dean at Newcastle Business School and Tom Warburton, Director of Investment and Development at Newcastle City Council.

Professor Yu Xiong, Chair of Technology and Operations Management at Newcastle Business School and organiser of the Forum, said: “We hope to use this event to progress innovation-sharing partnerships and to show businesses in the region how they can work with China. “I’m also delighted that just a year after joining the China UK Entrepreneurship Challenge, an event hosted by Newcastle Business School has been selected to launch this year’s competition. The initiative, which is becoming increasingly popular with universities, brings together businesses and student-led start-ups looking to develop commercial relationships and open up market opportunities through collaborations between China and the UK.”

Professor Kevin Kerrigan said: “Newcastle Business School has worked extensively with China for a number of years. We bring around 700 students from China into Newcastle each year and 800 are currently studying in Hong Kong on our university programme. We’ve got more than 10,000 alumni based in China and we’re looking to tap into that community and connect with established businesses in China to help grow the North East economy.”

Councillor Nick Forbes added: “Last year I took part in the UK Government-organised Northern Powerhouse visit to China as city leaders pitched for a new era of investment and co-operation. It was my second trade mission to China and what I saw was the growth in appetite for doing business with the UK. I got a real sense that the Chinese are waiting to do business in Britain, more so than when I was last there in 2012 and a clear sign of where things are going. Clearly, we must position the North East, as an integral part of the Northern Powerhouse, to benefit from this new appetite – we have so much to offer, and links such as those I made this week will help contribute to the growing confidence about investing in our region.”