Gatwick Diamond Business is inviting UK companies to join its first business mission to Shandong Province and Shanghai, taking place from 31 October to 7 November 2026.
There’s a quick expression of interest form via this page: https://investgatwickdiamond.co.uk/shandong-trade-visit/
The mission, organised with the China UK Business Development Centre (CUKBDC), will combine meetings and business engagement in Shandong with attendance at the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. The delegation is expected to attend the opening two days of CIIE on 5 and 6 November.
The programme will begin in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, where businesses will take part in company visits, meetings with government and industry representatives, sector briefings and targeted business matchmaking. The delegation will then travel to Shanghai for CIIE, where participants will be able to meet potential customers, partners and buyers and explore routes to market and commercial cooperation.
Brett North, Executive Director of Gatwick Diamond Business, said: “This is about taking the relationships we have been building with Shandong and turning them into practical opportunities for businesses. Rather than simply talking about international trade, we want to put companies in the room with potential customers, partners and organisations that can help them understand the market.
“For businesses that have considered China but haven’t known where to start, travelling as part of an organised delegation gives them a much more supported way to explore what might be possible.”
The mission follows the development of links between the Gatwick Diamond and Shandong through the recent UK-Shandong programme. Shandong is China’s third-largest provincial economy, with GDP comparable to that of the Netherlands and economic growth of 5.5 per cent in 2025. Its industries include advanced manufacturing, energy, agriculture and food, healthcare, technology and consumer goods.
CIIE brings together businesses, buyers, government representatives and industry organisations from China and overseas. Exhibition areas at the 2026 event will include food and agriculture, automobiles and smart mobility, intelligent industry and information technology, consumer goods, healthcare, financial and professional services, logistics and tourism.
John McLean OBE, Chairman of the China UK Business Development Centre, said: “There is a big difference between looking at China from the UK and actually sitting down with people who understand the market, meeting businesses and seeing the opportunities first-hand.
“Shandong has a broad industrial base and there are areas where British businesses have skills, products and services that complement what is happening there. The aim of the mission is to help companies find out where there is a genuine commercial fit and start the right conversations.”
The provisional programme runs from Saturday 31 October to Saturday 7 November, with three days centred on Shandong before the delegation travels to Shanghai for CIIE. Businesses are being asked to register their interest as soon as possible. Places are limited and participation is subject to confirmation.
To find out more, visit https://investgatwickdiamond.co.uk/shandong-trade-visit/ .