26 May 2009
Z-Park representatives experience the best of the
Northwest
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has hosted a
week long visit of two representatives of Zhongguancun Science Park
(Z-Park), Beijing this week, bolstering the business relationship
between the Northwest and China.
Z-Park originated from ‘Electronics Street’ in Beijing in the
early 1980’s and grew, with approval of the Chinese Government,
into the first national science park in China. Now with nearly
20,000 high-tech enterprises based in Z-park, fulfilling
approximately £60bn in revenue, it has become China’s Silicon
Valley.
The NWDA has entered into a lead-generation contract with an
affiliate of Z-Park to capitalise on his links with major high tech
companies in China. Tom Zhu Ziqi and his colleague Ann Hongli
(pictured) have made the trip to find out more about the Northwest,
visiting all five sub-regional partners, MediaCityUK and Daresbury
Science and Innovation Campus. They also looked in detail at the
products on offer to investors and built relationships which they
will take back to China to promote to potential clients.
The Northwest has historically been successful in attracting
investment projects from China and this relationship will help
secure higher quality leads and investment in the future.
Mark Hughes, Executive Director, of Economic Development for the
NWDA, said: “This is part of a long term strategy we have to
further develop both our inward investment and trade links
internationally. The NWDA has selected Tom and Ann to develop leads
for the Northwest to work closely with the Agency’s Country Manager
for China, Jing Chen. Jing has been “embedded” into UKTI’s
China Team to further build on the strong links that exist there.
The aim of this work is to ensure we develop more high-tech
projects from China for the region.”
The visit swiftly follows the announcement surrounding
Liverpool’s commitment to host a dedicated pavilion at The Shanghai
World Expo in China in 2010.
The Shanghai World Expo runs between May 1 and October 31 2010
and will attract around 90 million visitors. It is regarded as a
once-in-a-generation opportunity to consolidate existing and forge
new relationships in the world’s most important emerging economy
and is predicted to deliver up to £50m in benefits to Liverpool and
the Northwest over the next decade.
Liverpool is the only UK city which has committed to a dedicated
pavilion at the event. Its presence, funded by £1.25m from the
NWDA, is being managed by a partnership led by Liverpool City
Council and the Liverpool-Shanghai Partnership, supported by
Liverpool Vision and the NWDA.
Tom Zhu Ziqi, said: “This visit has added an extra dimension to
our knowledge of the Northwest. We already knew the basics about
what was on offer to potential investors but coming over and seeing
the high quality of the potential investment locations, business
support and quality of life that is on offer, has really impressed
us. We will be taking this all back to Z-Park. I am excited about
presenting the Northwest to companies in Beijing and hopefully
generating some exciting projects for the NWDA and the
region.”