For the first time a representative from the West Midlands has been appointed to engage with China’s emerging market.
Based in Shanghai, Helen Wang, previously Investment Officer at the British Consul General Shanghai, will be promoting the region’s strongest industrial sectors, automotive (specifically low carbon vehicle technologies), ICT (digital media, photonics and systems integrators) and Environmental Technologies (waste management and business support services) to Chinese companies with plans to internationalise.
On February 2nd a special reception was held to introduce the West Midlands offer, and Helen, to a select group of invited guests.
The event, held at Marriot Tomorrow Square with 66 guests from 44 commercial organisations, included West Midlands companies GKN and Brinton's Carpets, both with operations in China, and Chinese investors such as Ebao Tech and SAIC.
Richard Butler, Head of Inward Investment at Advantage West Midlands, gave a short speech in which he reminded those present of the strong existing ties between the region and China, the two most significant being the Memorandum of Understanding between Shandong province and the West Midlands, and the sister city relationship between Birmingham and Guangzhou. Commenting on the West Midlands’ strengths and key relationship with China, He said:
"As the internationally recognised birthplace of the industrial revolution, the West Midlands region gave the world many innovations; from steel as a material for the construction of infrastructure, to the humble stamp. But we are perhaps most renowned for our advanced automotive manufacturing industry, with 60% of all R&D undertaken in the West Midlands. And to illustrate this point, two of the worlds leading automotive manufacturers, Tata and SAIC, have chosen the region for their European R&D centres. Our relationship with China is key to the region’s global success and the appointment of Helen demonstrates our continued commitment to this relationship.”
The guest of honour for the evening was HE Carma Elliot, British Consul General Shanghai who, as well as reminding those assembled of the strong economic bonds between the UK and China, warmly welcomed Helen back into the trade and investment network.