Opportunities for Bristol firms in the world’s largest economic zone – China’s Greater Bay Area – have been highlighted at an online gathering led by West of England experts.
Invest Bristol & Bath (IBB), the inward investment arm of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) teamed up with the China-Britain Business Council for the event focusing on the Greater Bay Area (GBA), which includes Bristol’s twin city Guangzhou. 
Dozens of attendees from the UK and China dialled in via Zoom to the China Market Workshop, which kicked off with a welcome from West of England Mayor Tim Bowles.
IBB business development manager Valentina de Micheli then discussed industrial synergies and joint opportunities for collaboration, trade and investment between the West of England and the GBA.
Valentina was followed by China-Britain Business Council South West market business adviser Jamie Shaw, who discussed emerging opportunities for trade and investment with China, and Paul Hardman, secretary of the Bristol and West of England China Bureau and director and head of corporate commercial at Bristol law firm Gregg Latchams, who spoke about the importance of due diligence, intellectual property and legal considerations.
The event ended with a presentation from David Field, Bristol-based senior manager, tax, at accountants Grant Thornton, on ‘Doing Business in China – Circumventing Barriers’.
Among key participants at the event was the Bristol and West of England China Bureau, whose chief executive Dianne Francombe OBE, pictured, said: “China is a fast-growing, dynamic marketplace and UK exports to China have almost doubled over the past five years. 
“The Greater Bay Area is the world’s largest economic zone and has an economy worth $1.5trillion (£1.16trillion), which is larger than some G20 countries. This is predicted to double to $2.8trillion by 2025.
“China and the Greater Bay Area are shifting to a service and consumption-driven economy, driving the demand for imported technologically driven products and solutions.
“With 43,000 hi-tech enterprises, 43 tech unicorns and 20 Fortune 500 companies, there exist clear synergies with companies in the West of England, particularly within the sectors of creative and digital, hi-tech and advance manufacturing including robotics, AI, 5G and aerospace.”
The Bureau is now embarking on a project to identify and promote all the business engagement with China across the region, especially start-ups and research projects.
The final outcome of the China Eco System initiative will be to showcase a Virtual China Centre platform in the UK and China. For further information email dianne@chinabureau.co.uk
