Chinese investors arrive in Liverpool to target UK’s creative and digital businesses

Representatives of Chinese businesses are arriving in the North West this week on a mission to trade with the UK’s creative industries.

Travelling all the way to Liverpool from Kunming in South West China, the delegation is staging a trade and investment seminar with the goal of attracting new business partners.

The seminar, led by the Vice Mayor of Kunming as part of the International Festival for Business 2016, will offer attendees an overview of investment and partnership opportunities.

While the group is keen to meet creative and digital companies, it has stressed that there are opportunities for firms in all sectors.

Vice Mayor Mr Li said: “Our visit to Liverpool reflects our very positive relationship with the city and desire to create new business opportunities for companies both here and in Kunming.

“We believe there are significant opportunities for creative British companies to sell their services and products to clients in Kunming and opportunities, also, for joint investment projects and partnership working.”

He continued: “Liverpool City Region’s strengths in the creative and digital sector make it a very attractive proposition for our delegates.”

The delegation follows the signing of a Friendship Partnership Agreement between Liverpool and Kunming in February 2016, which resulted from dialogue between Kunming Municipal Government Vice Mayor Zhao Xuenong and Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, in September last year.

Mayor Anderson said: “Kunming is one of the most dynamic city regions in China and is regarded as a gateway to South West China and the wider South East Asia region.

“Alongside the opportunities to further our trade links with China, there is fantastic potential to share and explore each other’s diverse cultural heritage, creating a rich, vibrant dialogue and positive exchange of ideas.”

He added: “We’re excited at the prospect of welcoming the Kunming delegation to Liverpool for the International Festival for Business 2016 and look forward continuing to develop our relationship over the coming years.”

The director of investment agency Invest Liverpool, Ellen Cutler, commented: “We see our relationship with China as a key element in Liverpool’s future growth and the strengthening ties with Kunming are immensely important.

“We will be working together to deliver sustainable economic and community benefits by collaborating on a broad range of activities including trade and investment, science and technology, culture, education, and tourism.”

The Kunming delegation’s trade and investment seminar is due to take place on June 30.