Invest Gatwick Diamond Business (Gatwick Diamond) and the China UK Business Development Centre (CUKBDC) have agreed to develop a long-term partnership to create trade, investment and business opportunities between China and the Gatwick Diamond.
The partnership brings together Invest in the Gatwick Diamond’s investment activity with CUKBDC’s UK-China business network and relationships across major Chinese cities and economic regions. Both organisations work with businesses, investors, government bodies, trade organisations and economic development partners.
The two organisations will work to create a two-way business and investment corridor. The partnership will help Chinese companies and investors identify opportunities in the Gatwick Diamond and provide businesses from the region with introductions and relationships to support trade and investment activity in China.
Brett North, executive director at Invest Gatwick Diamond, said: “This agreement is about turning relationships into business. We want companies and investors in China to have a clear route into the Gatwick Diamond and, equally, we want businesses here to be able to build relationships and find opportunities across China. “There is a lot we can do together, from introducing businesses and identifying investment projects to developing delegations and strengthening the commercial relationships that support international connectivity. The measure of this partnership will be the opportunities and investment that come from it.”
John McLean OBE, Chair at the China UK Business Development Centre, said: “Businesses need more than an introduction if they are going to enter a new market. They need the right relationships on the ground, an understanding of where the opportunities are and people who can help them make those connections. “By bringing our networks together, we can help Chinese businesses understand what the Gatwick Diamond has to offer while giving UK businesses in the region access to relationships and potential trade opportunities across China. We want to build something that produces business introductions, investment discussions and ultimately trade over the long term.”
The partnership will also explore how increased trade, investment, delegations and business travel can support demand for air connectivity between London Gatwick and China. The developing relationship with Shandong Province will provide an early example of the approach, while CUKBDC’s wider network will be used to identify opportunities in other Chinese provinces, cities and economic regions based on sector, trade and investment requirements.
Cllr Bella Sankey, Chair of the Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority and Leader of Brighton & Hove Council, said: ‘Sussex is one of the best-connected business locations in the UK, and this partnership with the China UK Business Development Centre is exactly the kind of initiative that opens real doors for industries across our region. China represents a significant opportunity, and having the right relationships with and networks in place to make that accessible to Sussex companies is hugely valuable. We welcome this partnership and the opportunities it creates for businesses across the region.’