Eastern promise set to add up to £250m for Wirral

BUSINESS leaders are aiming to attract £250m of investment into the Wirral following a successful visit to China.

Representatives from the Wirral’s business community have returned from the Far East after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Taicanc General Chamber of Commerce, based in one of China’s most competitive cities.

The delegation, which included Paula Basnett, chief executive of Wirral Chamber and Cllr Phil Davies, leader of Wirral Council, met with Chinese government officials and businesses supported by UKTI and members of the China-Britain Business Council, the leading organisation helping UK companies to grow and develop business in China.

Basnett said: “The meetings held and the MOU signed places Wirral in a very positive position to enable us to create stronger trade links between Wirral and China.

“As we develop these, and other links, it will present Wirral businesses with greater opportunities to showcase their goods and services to a potentially massive market.”

It was also confirmed that a Chinese delegation will be visiting Wirral in November, and a return trade mission will also be organised by Wirral Chamber of Commerce during 2016 for local businesses to visit China.

Basnett continued: “When we were awarded British Chambers of Commerce accreditation earlier this year it enabled us to be recognised internationally and to create links and start business discussions, and, as such over the past months we have been building relationships with many overseas Chambers of Commerce.”

The successes were hailed by Cllr Davies, who said: “This is excellent news for Wirral. Today’s Chinese companies are looking for global opportunities and I am delighted to welcome their business leaders to meet our business community in November and establishing potential trading and investment relationships for Wirral.

“Taicang is in the Shanghai City Region and is one of the top ten most competitive cities in China, so we are excited about the possibilities ahead for Wirral firms.
 
“The Wirral partnership has a target of bringing £250m worth of investment into the borough by 2020, this is ambitious but achievable.  Agreements such as the one struck with Taicang are a huge step towards seeing new business, new jobs and a stronger economy for Wirral.
 
“Bringing investment into the borough is a process; it is about meeting people, about selling Wirral to the world.

“In China, there are teams from all over the globe selling the benefits of their city or region. We have a responsibility to make sure Wirral is front of mind and we must be ready to secure relationships with the people and companies looking to invest.

“In today’s global economy, you don’t attract investment by just sitting in your office expecting the phone to ring.”