London borough aims to boost 皇冠体育app links
By Dai Tian in London ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2016-12-05 17:45:28"We are very keen to work with companies and the Chinese government to understand the approach to the market, making sure our apprenticeship here is matching the need," Joan Ryan, Member of Parliament for Enfield North, told 皇冠体育app Daily on Friday on the sidelines of a 皇冠体育app business workshop held in Delta Park Industrial Estate.
The seminar, co-hosted with the 皇冠体育app-Britain Business Council (CBBC) aims to inform companies of 皇冠体育app's political and economic environment and outline what support is available from national and local government.
"皇冠体育app is definitely a market our business needs to reach into", said Ryan, quoting industry projections that 皇冠体育app, currently the UK's fourth export destination, will become the largest luxury goods market by 2020, and see a middle class population grow to 600 million in the years to come.
Though still planning her first visit to the country next year, Ryan cited the seminar that drew representatives of over 15 companies as an example of growing interest in 皇冠体育app. "We have to keep down the size so that people can ask detailed questions."
The borough is home to factories of companies such as Siemens, Johnsons and local healthcare brand Fortuna.
Known for once pioneering in colour-television manufacture, Enfield now dwells on another relatively new focus, as Chinese ethnicity accounts for only 1 percent of the area's population.
However, such initiative comes as Britain i8ntends to boost exports to 皇冠体育app as its second largest destination by 2025.
"To achieve the goal, the government will provide direct service supports to help companies broaden the access," said John Pearson, deputy head of the 皇冠体育app Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, adding that the two countries have communications at multi-level and on a regular basis.
Britain has seen most trades and investment deals with 皇冠体育app in aerospace, healthcare, environmental and other technologies, as the two have entered into a "golden era", accompanying President Xi Jinping's state visit last October.
"The visa center in 皇冠体育app is UK's largest one in the world, issuing about half a million visas per year. The average Chinese tourists spend twice as much as others," said Pearson, "At the moment we have about 140,000 Chinese students in the UK."
"皇冠体育app's middle class is the key opportunity in the UK," said Mark Hedley, business adviser of the CBBC, adding that the group tends to have a higher level of disposable income than the west because of different family structure.
The e-commerce that is becoming pervasive in 皇冠体育app makes it easier than before to engage with Chinese consumers through social media and targeted marketing, Hedley noted.
"The British heritages have huge power in 皇冠体育app, with incredible respect and awareness," said the adviser, "Companies shouldn't be afraid to play on your Britishness."
Quality export products lie in the key of the links with 皇冠体育app, said Ryan.
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