Merseyside China trade mission aims to build digital and creative business links
A Merseyside trade mission to China in September aims to help digital and creative firms take the leap into the potentially lucrative Chinese market.
The mission, organised by Liverpool City Council and regeneration agency Liverpool Vision, will visit Shanghai and the southern cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. It will run alongside a general UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) mission to those cities.
Companies wanting to find more about the mission can attend an introductory event on Wednesday at the Hilton hotel, in Liverpool One. The event runs from 10am to 12 noon.
Ailsa Horne, of Liverpool Vision, said: “Any size of company is welcome to take part.
“It might be that they’ve done a little bit of business in China before or they have a bit of experience and they want to progress that.
“They could be in broadcasting, architecture, design, publishing, advertising, or anything across the creative and digital spectrum.”
The speakers at Wednesday’s event will be Philomena Chen, head of Asia- Pacific development for UKTI (Northwest), and creative and digital business adviser David Parrish.
Mr Parrish lived in Shanghai for six months and has seen his book, T-Shirts and Suits, published both in China and in Taiwan.
He said: “China’s economy is expanding so quickly, and they take the creative industries very seriously.
“They’re building their own businesses in design, architecture, advertising, but they do recognise that they lack that kind of expertise. They are looking towards the UK for creative talent and expertise in areas such as design, music and architecture.”
Mr Parrish said doing business in China could be rewarding for businesses prepared to put in the work.
He said: “It’s not simple. It’s not an easy decision. It’s not something you can do on a whim. But it’s something that can be done, and a lot of businesses have done it.
“Companies need to be aware of the opportunities, and be ready to think internationally.
“There are links already established between the Liverpool and China, through twinning and Liverpool’s presence at the World Expo in Shanghai. A lot of people in Shanghai know Liverpool, for various reasons.”
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