Creatives aim to forge links in China
A GROUP of 12 creative business are setting off for China today to showcase their products and develop important business links in the country.
The firms, which specialise in creative, digital, ICT, and financial development are taking part in a mission organised by UK Trade & Investment North West.
They include Manchester-based Viva La Zoom, an independent film company that produces music videos and corporate films, the Chinese Arts Centre, which promotes contemporary Chinese art in the UK, and the University of Central Lancashire, which is looking to collaborate with education institutions as well as fashion, journalism and media contacts.
More companies are represented by CING – the Creative Industries Networking Group – which has more than 1,000 members drawn from across Manchester’s thriving creative sector.
The companies will attend briefings by the Hong Kong Trade & Development Council, meet representatives from the creative industries and have the opportunity to visit Filmart, the Hong Kong international film and TV market.
Philomena Chen, head of Asia Pacific business at UKTI North West said: “We are very excited about visiting Hong Kong and Shenzhen to help the North West’s creative companies explore new opportunities and forge trade links with China.
“As Europe’s second largest media hub, the North West is internationally recognised for the innovation, quality and diversity of its creative offering. The sector benefits from a huge resource of talent, with over 31,000 companies and 320,000 individuals involved with the industry and the region is a hotbed of talent and ingenuity.
“Hong Kong and Southern China offer substantial long term opportunities and this market visit will help strengthen the North West’s economic ties with one of our most important trade and investment partners.”
