Chinese business delegation welcomed to Scotland

A group of China’s leading private sector entrepreneurs is in Scotland this week to meet with a number of companies as part of a nine-day business tour aimed at developing international links directly with Scottish businesses.

The China Entrepreneur Club (CEC) is a group of some of China’s most influential entrepreneurs, business leaders and economists which exists to foster entrepreneurial exchange, cooperation and international collaboration. Its 49 member companies earned a total annual gross income of over £338bn in 2015.

This visit forms part of the China Entrepreneur Golf Club‘s (CEGC) annual Overseas Business Visit. The CEGC is part of the CEC and was formed in 2007 to bridge mutual interests in business and sport for China’s private sector business leaders.

Scottish Enterprise’s High Growth Markets Unit made introductions for the CEGC to a number of Scottish companies interested in exploring business collaboration and opportunities with the group.

A series of facility tours and meetings with companies including NetThings, Collagen Solutions PLC, Mallzee, Money Dashboard and Sunamp are arranged, as well as a China-Scotland Friendship Golf Match at St Andrews Castle Course.

George McGhee, CEO at NetThings, said "At NetThings our vision is to be at the forefront of low-cost energy management technology and today we were delighted to host such prestigious entrepreneurs from China, many of whom have a wealth of knowledge in this area.

“Our aim is to work with partners globally to understand different markets, build upon our own learnings and educate our team and today was a fantastic opportunity to work with CEC to do this."

Maggie Cheng, Secretary-general of the China Entrepreneur Club said: “Initiated by the China Entrepreneur Club in 2007, the China Entrepreneur Golf Club was created to bridge business and sport across China’s private sector business leaders. The delegation is very excited to experience Scotland, Scottish golf culture and build business links between China and Scotland.

“In this trip to Scotland we will visit several distinctive Scottish companies. They are very impressive in areas of energy management, sustainable energy, real estate, and investment management. This will offer opportunity to better understand the strengths of business in Scotland. We hope more chances to carry out in-depth exchange in business with them in future.”

Julian Taylor, Executive Director for Asia Pacific at Scottish Enterprise said: “China is one of the most important export markets available to Scotland and it would be good for our economy to see trade between our two countries continue to increase.

“The China Entrepreneur Golf Club represents an influential partner, and we are proud to introduce them to some of our most exciting companies, which will certainly benefit from any collaboration and mutual exchange with the group. We welcome the members to Scotland and hope that their visit is both useful and enjoyable.”

Scottish Enterprise’s High Growth Markets Unit was set up in 2014 to help companies enter markets in China, India and Middle East which are sometimes difficult to get into, but which offer potentially high rewards. China is Scotland’s 13^th largest export market worth £530m in 2014. Its economy grew by some 7% in 2015, as the government there implements reforms to establish steady and sustainable economic development.

A number of the CEGC visitors will also enjoy a day of watching The Open Championship in Troon as well as playing the Kingsbarns, St Andrews, Jubilee and Loch Lomond courses during the visit. Visits to the Scottish Rugby Union and Celtic Football Club, as well as a visit to Glengoyne Distillery, will complete the entrepreneurs’ whirlwind visit to Scotland, to which many are travelling for the first time.