HM Ambassador Sir William Ehrman is visiting Harbin and Changchun from October 25-27th, accompanied by a business delegation of 13 companies.  On this visit to both cities located in northeastern China, Sir William Ehrman will meet with local Government representatives, and visit local and UK companies.  Harbin and Changchun were recently identified in a report by UK Trade & Investment and the China Britain Business Council as Chinese regional cities holding significant opportunities for UK business.

In Harbin, in Heilongjiang Province, the Ambassador will visit Associated British Foods, one of the largest foreign investors in the Province with 4,000 employees.  He will also visit Hafei Auto, a leading manufacturer of mini vans and small motor vehicles.  The accompanying business delegation will meet with representatives of local companies and government departments in order to discuss future cooperation and investment.

While visiting Changchun, the capital of Jilin Province, the Ambassador will visit UK safety glass manufacturer Pilkington and meet with senior management of China's oldest automaker, First Automobile Works.  He will deliver a speech at Jilin University, focusing on the developing relationship between the UK and China, including in trade, investment and climate change.

Speaking in advance of his visit to northeast China, Sir William Ehrman said: "I am very pleased to be visiting Heilongjiang and Jilin.  Together, these two provinces have a population that is equivalent to the UK and industry in the region has played a significant role in the development of the People's Republic of China.  There are significant opportunities for UK business, particularly in the advanced engineering, transport, agriculture, pharmaceutical, energy, low carbon, financial services, ICT and life science sectors.  I look forward to exploring these further during my visit."

Background:

1. UK Trade & Investment is the government organisation that helps UK-based companies
   succeed in the global economy. 
   
   We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s dynamic economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. 
   
   UK Trade & Investment offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools  they require to be competitive on the world stage.  
   
2. UKTI, in partnership with CBBC, has published a new brochure on China’s Regional Cities which highlights the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities in Regional Cities, and provides a starting-point to our extensive China Regional Cities report.
   
   The opportunities for business in China are not just in the well-known Chinese business centres of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, but also further afield in numerous emerging regional centres. The British and Chinese economies will benefit considerably if we can harness our strengths to the many opportunities throughout China.

 

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