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20 Apr 07Local Delegation Visits China
A delegation bringing together local business, council and education officials has travelled to China to raise awareness of the investment opportunities in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole.
The joint mission to Chongqing 
this week - led by Borough of Poole, Dorset Business , Bournemouth and Poole College and the Business and Travel Bureau - follows a visit by a group of Chinese government officials to Poole last August.
The mission, the first of its kind to China from Poole, has provided an opportunity to make important contacts with government officials, the British diplomatic service in China, the British Chamber, and both Chinese and British business interests in Chongqing.
The visit has generated much interest in China, including coverage on national television and in the Chinese national press.
Chongqing is the largest and most populous of China’s four provincial-level municipalities. Formerly a provincial city within the Sichuan Province, the municipality of Chongqing has a registered population of more than 31,000,000.
Peter Wheelhouse, Economic Development Manager, Borough of Poole, said: “We have seen for ourselves the enormous commercial opportunities for British businesses in this region of China. Chongqing has been designated as a national development zone, and major economic growth is underway. Amongst the sectors that are likely to benefit from economic development in Chongqing are education, the creative industries, and the aviation and aerospace sector. Chongqing airport is one of a number of rapidly expanding regional airports and is set to become one of the largest in China. The associated expansion of China’s airlines is creating huge demand for specialist training.”
Peter Scott, Chief Executive of Dorset Business, said: “The area is already a manufacturing centre of excellence that has attracted investment by multi-national corporations. Their confidence in Chongqing is a measure of the potential for businesses in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole that wish to jump on the China bandwagon, and key to realising this potential is the development of a Partner-Matching service.”
Peter Wheelhouse added: “In recognition of the opportunities, and as a mark of the friendship that we have struck with our hosts, friendship agreements have been signed with both the Chongqing Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Yubei District Business Association. The agreements commit the parties to further exploratory talks regarding economic cooperation.”
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