SDI strengthens Scottish trade links with ‘the new Shanghai’
Scottish Development International (SDI) will today (Monday 27th September) host a series of meetings between a delegation of 40 companies from Tianjin – a fast-growing city in north-east China – and some of the most globally ambitious Scottish companies looking to enter Chinese markets.
During the visit, Tianjin delegates representing a variety of business sectors will attend a Scotland-Tianjin business workshop in Edinburgh and make connections with Scottish companies through a series of one-to-one meetings facilitated by SDI.
The visit comes just three months after the First Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Scotland and Tianjin, outlining a mutual commitment to strengthen collaboration in the areas of trade and investment, education, science and technology and tourism and culture.
The companies involved in the mission are aiming to learn about the economic and technological advantages which Tianjin could enjoy through successful partnerships with Scotland.
Frank Boyland, director of Asia for SDI, said: “Opportunities for trade and investment partnerships with China continue to grow, and we are encouraging Scottish companies, particularly those in the financial services sector, to take advantage of events like this to find out about the opportunities presented by Chinese markets.
“Similarly, we know that Tianjin is actively seeking innovative partners to help transform its regional economy and develop its key industries, so we want to highlight the benefits that Chinese companies can enjoy through partnerships with Scotland.
“There is a great strategic fit between what China sees as its key growth sectors – electronics, engineering, chemicals and textiles – and where Scotland’s strengths lie, so the opportunity is there for us to demonstrate how innovative, ambitious and globally competitive our own national industries are.
“We are working hard to ensure that when the Tianjin delegates leave Scotland, they do so with a clear message that Scotland is very much open for business.”
Enterprise Minister Jim Mather added: “This is an opportunity to build on the strong relations Scotland already enjoys with Tianjin and raise Scotland’s profile as a nation to do business with.
“We have real assets in a variety of sectors in Scotland and, through business link ups in growing markets overseas, we can work to meet their unique needs and thus accelerate the development of the new more successful Scottish economy that we all want to see.”
Tianjin has often been called ‘the new Shanghai’ due to the speed at which the city is developing and it has already attracted interest from several Scottish companies, looking to grow through partnerships with Chinese companies. Seven Scottish companies, including Standard Life, currently have operations in Tianjin.
As part of its aim to get more Scottish companies involved in international activity, SDI recently joined forces with Scottish Chambers International to launch Smart Exporter – a groundbreaking new programme which aims to equip ambitious Scottish businesses with the skills and expertise needed to enter new international markets.