WHAT delights might the North East hold for ambitious companies from the Far East?
The North East’s software industry has been keen to look into strengthening links with the huge Chinese market, but there’s also interest from Chinese companies.
A delegation of government officials, software company presidents and even headteachers were in Wearside last week as part of a delegation organised with Sunderland Software City.
The delegation from the Chinese city of Harbin took a tour of Sunderland as well as wandering around Sunderland Football Club’s Stadium of Light and looking at the city’s schools.
The 12-strong party was headed by foreign affairs office deputy director Cao Ru and director of Harbin Industry and Information Commission Zhi Dayong.
While figures for October showed China’s export growth has slowed due to issues in the eurozone and the US, the country has swelled to become the world’s second-largest economy on the back of its manufacturing and export sectors. Sunderland City Council signed a friendship agreement with Harbin in 2009 to build business, educational and cultural links, and Sunderland’s companies are increasingly aware of the potential of exploring the 10th largest city in China.
Last year, firms such as Nurvex, Artingence, Teflabs, The Mustard Corporation, Inventive Technology and LamasaTech visited Harbin as part of a tour of China which also took in Nanjing and Shanghai.
LamasaTech even extended its stay, remaining for more than a month to hold discussions with interested parties such as the Chinese government.
Cao Ru said: “It is good news for both cities that we are co-operating so well and productively together. We have forged strong links between Sunderland and Harbin in our business and education communities.”
Harbin boasts a population of 10 million and has expertise in areas such as the automotive, chemicals, ICT, pharmaceuticals and electronics sectors. The idea of building links between the two software sectors is a key priority of the relationship, and the delegation visited the University of Sunderland to discuss matters such as green technology and cloud computing.
A trade mission from Sunderland to Harbin is planned for next year.
However, there is also a hope that school partnerships will be strengthened.
A total of nine Sunderland schools have been working with schools in Harbin, with a further school joining during the visit.
Teachers and pupils from seven Sunderland schools will travel to Harbin next year to experience Chinese education.
Coun Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “China is a huge market and the Chinese business people on this mission have travelled thousands of miles to explore opportunities in Sunderland and link up with our thriving software sector.
“We are as enthusiastic as our guests about the potential for trading between our cities, and will do all we can to nurture links.
“The quality of our software sector means many Sunderland-based companies are already trading globally with great success.”