Businesses urged to target China in the Year of the Horse
30th January 2014
Highlands and Islands businesses interested in exporting to China have an opportunity to access specialist information and advice at a free event in Inverness in March.
Organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), in partnership with Scottish Development International (SDI) and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), the event comes a matter of weeks after China celebrates its New Year, the beginning of Year of the Horse, on January 31.
The ‘Doing Business in China’ event, held at Eden Court, Inverness on 5 March, will highlight the opportunities and considerations for businesses in this fast growing market. It will also provide information on routes to market, an understanding of Chinese culture and advice on how to protect your intellectual property.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to access free export advice and one to one sessions with experts from SDI, the CBBC and European patent and trade mark attorneys Murgitroyd & Co, organised through the Smart Exporter programme.
Laura Robertson, Development Manager at HIE, said: “China offers huge opportunities for Highlands and Islands companies in sectors such as food and drink, renewable energy and financial services to name but a few. It’s a fast growing and exciting market but it does come with its own specific challenges so we hope this event will help companies know what to expect and how to approach it.”
Delegates will also hear first hand experience from Madeleine Clark, Key Account Manager for seafood company, Marine Harvest, which has been trading in China since 2010. Madeleine said, “We recognise that China represents a key market for Scottish salmon. Our exports have grown by 20% since 2011 and we are anticipating a further 10% growth year on year. China is a very interesting and exciting market and there are many more opportunities out there for Scottish companies. "
The half-day event which is free to attend will take place at Eden Court, Inverness on March 5 and includes a networking lunch. After lunch companies can meet on a one to one basis with experts in a series of pre-booked business clinics.
For more information on the Inverness event, please visit www.hie.co.uk/china or call Euan Bayliss on 01463 244212.
A second ‘Doing Business in China’ event will be held on 6 March in Edinburgh. For further information on the Edinburgh event, visit: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/events/2014/03/doing-business-in-china-2014
PHOTO
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chinese_draak.jpg
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Companies operating in Scotland's aquaculture supply chain industries are being encouraged to get involved in a major global networking opportunity. Aqua Nor is the world's premier event for the sector and a focal point for new customers and investors who are interested in Scotland.
The much-anticipated return of the funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain will not take place in December, as had been hoped. Contractor Balfour Beatty has substantially completed an extensive remediation programme to strengthen the 1.8km viaduct, however detailed inspections have shown that further work is required in some areas.
A sand mining company in Lochaber is set to double its production and increase annual turnover by more than £2.6m. Lochaline Quartz Sand Limited (LQS) has secured up to £230,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the £855,000 costs of upgrading equipment on site.
The newly appointed head of business growth for Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) in Argyll and the Islands is to focus on expanding the agency's portfolio of business clients. Liam Orr, originally from Benderloch near Oban, took up the post in early December and leads HIE’s business growth team across an area covering Argyll and Bute, Arran and the Cumbraes.
An Aviemore-based adventure tourism operator has made significant progress in sustainability over the past two years by investing in e-bikes, e-vehicles and a carbon labelling system. Wilderness Scotland has reduced its scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 16 percent through its commitment to business decarbonisation.
The funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain looks set to be back in action towards the end of December or early in the new year. Contractor Balfour Beatty has confirmed that, weather permitting, its current programme of remediation works on the viaduct that supports the railway is due to finish in the next week to 10 days, after which teams working for the company plan to demobilise from the mountainside.
Fetcha Chocolates is investing in new equipment to quadruple its capacity, increase turnover and create employment. An Argyll based chocolate manufacturer is investing in new equipment to quadruple its capacity, increase turnover and create employment.
Is your young business ready for the next step?. The Young Business Capital Grant helps young businesses and social enterprises (under 5 years old) invest in projects that stimulate growth.
Shell-volution is an ambitious industry-wide initiative supported by the public sector and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) which has been awarded £4.4 million of investment from the UK Government as part of the Islands Growth Deal. This innovative, ground-breaking project is set to transform shellfish aquaculture, bringing sustainable growth and additional quality jobs in mussel farming, based on detailed investigations (mapping and monitoring) and creating a model for improving security and reliability of wild spat recruitment, through industry best practice.
A Nairn-based foundry, which has achieved international recognition for its larger-than-life bronze castings has invested in a £200,000 expansion to help it reach greater heights. An award of £60,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has helped Black Isle Bronze to improve infrastructure and purchase equipment to extend the range of projects the firm can undertake.
