News that Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is to launch a new research centre in Bristol proves tighter connections being established with the Far East are beginning to bear fruit.
Richard Lowe, a director with the West of England China Bureau, welcomed last week’s announcement that Huawei will establish an R&D centre in the city to spearhead a major expansion in the UK. He said the move will help expand the pool of high calibre employees with experience of working with and for Chinese companies.
He said: “This deal is typical of the opportunities being created by our ever closer links with China and particularly Bristol’s twin city of Guangzhou.”
The West of England China Bureau is currently putting together a trade delegation of high-tech operators from the green waste, silicon and semi-conductor sectors to visit the Guanghzou region and Hong Kong at the end of November and beginning of December.
The Smart Cities’ China Trade Mission will include participation in a high-level global summit related to these sectors to be held in Hong Kong as well as potentially linking with a related business awards event in Guangzhou.
Richard Lowe said: “We welcome Huawei’s decision to open a research and development centre here. Our mission is to encourage two-way trade links, with bureau delegations acting as an advance guard for firms looking to operate in between UK & China.”
Guangzhou is situated in the Pearl River Delta – the largest electronic manufacturing hub in the world and a hot-bed for the semi-conductor market.
Electronics is also the region’s largest industry – it produces over 40 per cent of Guangzhou’s output and makes up almost 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s exports.
“Hong Kong and Guangzhou are key cities accounting for a majority of all mobile phone and electronic manufacturing and production in China with an attractive silicon and semi-conductor hub and supply chain.
“Huawei’s decision to locate in Bristol will reinforce the idea that doing business in China is not as complex as people fear.
“Crucially, it helps to create a workforce as familiar with Chinese working methods and practice as they are with our own working systems.”
Huawei makes the technology used in mobile phone base stations as well as wi-fi boxes and dongles. The new research centre will open later this year.
The West of England China mission is being organised by Red Dragon Advisers in Partnership with the West of England China Bureau and other organisations in China and the UK.
