Help and advice if you want to look East...

Mar 4 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

UK Trade and Investment works with a wide range of partners to help Teesside firms enter and become more competitive in overseas markets, including China.

Its next visit takes place between May 26 and June 5, heading for the industrial regions of Zhengzhou and Wuhan in the heart of the country.

On March 19 it hosts an introductory session to doing business there. Running from 10am to 1pm at Lumley Castle, Durham, it will include presentations by China-Britain Business Council and HSBC bank, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, One NorthEast, the Regional Technology Centre and Knowledge House. Call 0845 0505054 for details.

Key sectors in Zhengzhou are food and drink, machinery, chemicals, construction and materials, electricity, gas, coal and tobacco, while automotive and iron and steel dominate business in Wuhan.

Inside China, the UKTI works through the China-Britain Business Council, which has offices in 11 cities. Go to www.cbbc.org

For information on UK Trade and Investment services offered by the regional team, call 0845 05 05 054, email enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk

or visit www.exportnortheast.com