Sheffield forges multi-million pound links with China
CHINESE officials have signed a multi-million pound trade agreement to buy large-scale engineering products from Sheffield.
The agreement, which pledges future orders of specialist cast and forged steel products to be placed with world-leading engineers Sheffield Forgemasters International, was signed at an event hosted by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Jane Bird, at Sheffield Town Hall.
Officials from Sheffield Forgemasters met delegates from Harbin Electric Company (HEC) and other representatives at the event.
The accord will see Sheffield Forgemasters produce a range of large-scale complex engineering products for civil nuclear, steam and hydro power generation plants in China.
David Bunney, general sales manager at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “Signing the accord with our colleagues from Harbin Electric Company is a great step forward and reinforces an already strong trading partnership between SFIL and China.
“It is anticipated that over the next four years, business between Forgemasters and Harbin Electric Company could exceed £3m per year as a result of this agreement.”
The accord builds on Sheffield’s expanding trade ties with China with other organisations including Sheffield International Venues, international law firm DLA Piper and Sheffield United FC – which owns the Chengdu Blades football club – all demonstrating strong business links with China.
South Yorkshire International Trade Centre international trade manager, Renate Halton, said: “Sheffield Chamber chief executive Nigel Tomlinson described China as a ‘land of opportunity’ back in 2006 when the Chamber was appointed the UK Counsellor for the EU-China Partenariat event – a flagship activity in the European Commission’s strategy for economic cooperation with China.
“The Chamber very much still holds this view two years on as China remains one of the world’s fastest growing economies. There are a wealth of opportunities for UK companies in China and, with the right support, China can be a rewarding market for South Yorkshire companies.
“Forgemasters is leading by example – this new agreement shows what opportunities are out there for the city business region.”
Other guests at the signing included Zhao Kefei, party secretary of China’s Heilongjiang Provincial Government; John Mothersole, chief executive of Sheffield City Council; Paul Scriven, leader of Sheffield City Council; and Renate Halton, SYITC international trade manager at Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.
