The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) outlined by China’s President Xi Jinping is one of the most significant and substantial investment and development programmes to come out of China since the building of the Great Wall.

On October 4 & 5, University of Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall will host a conference for businesses and policy-makers to understand more about the world’s largest economic development initiative and how you could participate.

Members of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce are being offered a special deal for this conference – only £55 for the two days, including dinner. Please click here to view the conference flyer, and when clicking through to the booking engine, enter ‘SSR50’ to obtain the discount.

As part of Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, two replica terracotta warriors will be on display at Stirling Castle, having been presented to the nation by Chinese cultural counterparts.

The two reproductions, made using traditional materials and techniques, were formally accepted by Minister for International Development and Europe Dr Alasdair Allan on behalf of the Scottish public.

International Development Minister Alasdair Allan said: “I’d like to thank the Beijing HUA XIA YAN International Culture and Creative Company for gifting these two outstanding replica Terracotta Warriors to the people of Scotland. It is fitting that this Chinese cultural showcase is being held at a time when Scotland celebrates the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017.”

Dr David Mitchell, Director of Conservation at HES, said: “Traditional skills and materials are particularly important to us, and our discussions with our Chinese colleagues have demonstrated that we share many common challenges and can benefit from sharing our knowledge.

“As a part of important activities in the Scottish Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, HES and the University of Stirling have been working with Beijing HUA XIA YAN International Culture and Creative Company from early this year to get the two beautiful reproductions of the Terracotta Warriors to Stirling.”

Professor Richard Oram, Dean of Arts and Humanities at the University of Stirling, said: “We are tremendously privileged these replicas have been made for us using the same handcrafting techniques as the originals. The original terracotta warriors represented the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China in 210–209 BCE, and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. The figures, dating from approximately the late 3rd century BCE, were discovered in 1974 by farmers in Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi province.”

Visitors to Stirling Castle will also be able to see the ‘China Culture & Craft’ showcase which is being held in the Chapel Royal from 1 to 29 September 2017, as part of collaboration between Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the University of Stirling and the Art Exhibitions China. The exhibition will showcase around 100 Chinese artisan craft objects, made in traditional materials and using traditional techniques. Some of them will be contemporary in design and material combined with traditional style, employing innovative craftsmanship. Exhibits include iconic bronze reproductions, stone craft, wood crafts and other creative productions made using traditional techniques.

The bronze reproductions include the famous Square Vessel (fang zun) with four rams which was made in the late Shang period between 1300-1046 BC and excavated in 1938, the Painted Goose and Fish Lamp which was made in the Western Han between 206 BC – 8 AD and excavated in 1985, and The Mask with Protruding Eyes, which was made in the late Shang between 1300-1046 BC and excavated in 1986 at Sanxingdui.

The small size reproductions of the Bronze Chariot and Horses which was excavated from Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum and other terracotta warriors-related creative productions will also be displayed in this show case.

In January 2017, HES signed an international agreement with the University of Stirling and The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, in Beijing, China. This partnership has established international research collaborations for heritage and conservation at the University which investigate a range of issues facing built heritage and the impacts of climate and wider environmental changes on a global scale.

From 1-2 September, the University of Stirling, The Palace Museum and HES will host an inaugural international conference on global challenges in cultural heritage, which will bring together academics, conservation practitioners and heritage professionals from around the world to explore and share approaches to specific challenges in relation to a range of shared issues, and to highlight Scotland’s place, and in particular Stirling, as an international centre for research and innovation in heritage and conservation.
Entry to the ‘China Culture & Craft’ showcase is included in the normal Stirling Castle admission price and is free for members.

A message from Shenzhen Creative Investment Group;

To whom it may concern,

Shenzhen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China.

Since the launch of the Edinburgh Shenzhen Creative Exchange in 2015 with the City of Edinburgh Council and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Shenzhen Municipal Government; annual high-level bilateral business and culture activities have been organised by the two cities.

This August, we are delighted to welcome another senior Shenzhen business and official delegation to Edinburgh.

We cordially invite you to the Smart Shenzhen – Innovation Promotion Seminar on Monday 7th August at the Glasshouse, Autograph Collection Hotels, 2 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA.

Please visit the Event page for more information and registration.

During the event, Shenzhen officials will introduce business opportunities and incentives in the Bao’an district, where the Edinburgh-Shenzhen Creative Exchange is based.

You will also have the chance to learn more about the 3 winning Shenzhen companies of the 2nd ‘Create in Edinburgh’ competition and network with the Shenzhen delegation and other Scottish businesses.

Should you have any question, please contact Mr Jiangtao Ma (jiangtao.ma@scig.com.cn) of the Shenzhen Creative Investment Group.

Best regards,

Jiangtao Ma

Shenzhen Creative Investment Group

New alliances open up new opportunities for Edinburgh companies

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has participated in one of the first network-wide overseas trade missions to China, led by a delegation of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

Chief Executive, Liz McAreavey joined senior representatives and business people from Aberdeen, Ayrshire, Dundee & Angus, Glasgow, and West Lothian. The mission explored new trading opportunities and links with business, education and government organisations.

As part of the programme, Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) announced the official opening of a new International Trade Office in the city of Yantai. The formal opening ceremony was hosted by the Vice Mayor of Yantai city, Madame Zhang Bo, together with senior officials from Yantai Municipal Government.

As part of the event, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding for trade engagement and partnership, designed to achieve an effective channel for exchange of business between Scotland and Yantai.

During the trade visit, Edinburgh Chamber participated in a series of productive meetings with senior business people, highly influential politicians including Vice Governor Wang Shujian, and local government officials as well as national ‘think tanks’ bodies in Beijing, Yantai and Jinan in the Shandong Province

Chief Executive, Liz McAreavey commented: “The Chinese economy continues to grow at a faster pace than western economies and the rate of growth within new cities such as Yantai and Jinan opens up the potential for Edinburgh businesses to promote and sell its goods and services which Chinese businesses and consumers want and need. That demand, together with a more recent policy of ‘opening up’ to new trading partners and overseas alliances by the Chinese, presents a myriad of opportunities for our local businesses to capitalise on.

“The aim of our mission was to strengthen relationships and increase engagement with existing and new contacts in sectors where there are direct B2B or knowledge-sharing opportunities for Edinburgh companies. Yantai is a city of 7 million and SCC’s base in Yantai will enable us to plan a comprehensive approach to exploiting the many opportunities in Yantai and further afield for our members and non-members.”

Shandong Province represents the third largest economy in China with a population of over 97 million and a GDP in excess of 6.3 trillion yuan (£0.7 trillion). It is China’s best wine growing region accounting for over 25% of all wine production. Yantai is the biggest trading port in North China and in 2016, the city imported over $19 billion (£14.7 billion) of goods and services.

Chief Executive, Liz McAreavey also visited the city of Jinan, which is home to one of the first national high-tech business incubators and since its foundation in 2002, it has incubated more than 1,000 small and medium sized science and technology enterprises. It focuses on cultivating fast-growing sectors such as biomedicine, ecommerce, energy, environmental protection and new materials.

Key sectors for Edinburgh Chamber based companies to meet key economic needs in the Chinese target cities include: electronic information, robotics and artificial intelligence, bioscience, R &D and smart technologies, food and drink and even football management.

The accelerated growth of consumers in Shandong province also opens opportunities in consumer goods, recreation and tourism services, financial and professional services and education.

Chief Executive, SCC, Liz Cameron said: “We now have a deeper understanding of how we can achieve the best exchange for business, where the opportunities exist for Scottish organisations and how we can best pursue these.

“We have also identified a number of potential opportunities for inward investment into Scotland and will be working with Scottish Government and SDI as well as other trade organisations to explore these and leverage the momentum of change within China.

SCC intends to return to Shandong Province later this year to conclude discussions on further Memorandums of Understanding and explore new ways to foster co-operation between the two countries.

New alliances created with key developing cities in China as part of trade visit

Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) has announced the official opening of a new International Trade Office in the city of Yantai, China, as part of a trade mission by a Chambers’ delegation to explore new trading opportunities and links with business, education and government organisations.

The formal opening ceremony was hosted by the Vice Mayor Madame Zhang Bo, together with senior officials from Yantai Municipal Government. Both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding for trade engagement and partnership, designed to achieve an effective channel for exchange of business between Scotland and Yantai.

The Scottish delegation, led by SCC’s new President, Tim Allan and CEO Liz Cameron, comprised Presidents and CEOs from Chambers throughout Scotland: Aberdeen, Ayrshire, Dundee & Angus, Glasgow, Edinburgh and West Lothian. They were accompanied by senior business executives, including entrepreneur David Valentine of Valentine International, and former SCC Chair Nora Senior, UK Chair of international PR company Weber Shandwick, who have had a presence working in China for over 25 years.

During the trade visit, which was six months in the planning, SCC held a series of productive meetings with senior business people, highly influential politicians and local government officials including Vice Governor Wang Shujian, as well as national ‘think tanks’ bodies in Beijing, Yantai and Jinan in the Shandong Province

President Tim Allan commented: “The Chinese economy continues to grow at a faster pace than western economies and the rate of growth within new cities such as Yantai and Jinan opens up the potential for Scottish businesses to promote and sell goods and services which Chinese businesses Chinese businesses and consumers want and need. That demand, together with a more recent policy of ‘opening up’ to new trading partners and overseas alliances by the Chinese, presents a myriad of opportunities for Scottish businesses to capitalise on.

“The aim of our mission was to strengthen relationships and increase engagement with existing and new contacts in sectors where there are direct B2B or knowledge-share opportunities for Scottish companies. Yantai is a city of 7 million and SCC’s base in Yantai will enable us to plan a comprehensive approach to exploiting the many opportunities in Yantai and further afield.”

Shandong Province represents the third largest economy in China with a population of over 97 million and a GDP in excess of 6.3 trillion yuan (£0.7 trillion). It is China’s best wine growing region accounting for over 25% of all wine production. Yantai is the biggest trading port in North China and in 2016, the city imported over $19 billion (£14.7 billion) of goods and services.

The city of Jinan is home to one of the first national high-tech business incubators and since its foundation in 2002, it has incubated more than 1,000 small and medium sized science and technology enterprises. It focuses on cultivating fast-growing sectors such as biomedicine, ecommerce, energy, environmental protection and new materials.

Key sectors for Scottish interest to meet key economic needs in the Chinese target cities include: electronic information, robotics and artificial intelligence, pharmaceutical, bioscience, R &D, manufacturing, engineering and smart technologies, energy including upstream and downstream products and services, logistics, agriculture, food and drink, and indeed football management.

The accelerated growth of consumers in Shandong province also opens opportunities in consumer goods, recreation and tourism services, financial and professional services and education.

Chief Executive, SCC, Liz Cameron OBE said: “This exploratory visit is part of the new partnership which was formed between Scottish business, through our extensive Chamber network, and the Scottish Government to utilise the world-wide connectivity of the business community. We now have a deeper understanding of how we can achieve the best exchange for business, where the opportunities exist for Scottish organisations and how we can best pursue these.

“We have also identified several potential opportunities for inward investment into Scotland and will be working with Scottish Government and SDI as well as other trade organisations to explore these and leverage the momentum of change within China.

“Our next steps will be to undertake a deep dive of companies based in Scotland who have products, skills and expertise which have the potential to be exported to the Shandong Province area. Our aim is to add impetus to the Scottish economy by assisting companies who have not previously thought about exporting to grasp the potential that international trade offers.

“The new more open trading environment in fast growing cities such as Yantai, Jinan and the wider Shandong Province, together with the practical advice and direct B2B links Chambers now have within this market, will facilitate more effective trading partnership opportunities for Scottish businesses and educational institutions.”

SCC intends to return to Shandong Province later this year to conclude discussions on further Memorandums of Understanding and explore new ways to foster co-operation between the two countries.

Chambers in Scotland have already led trade missions to Italy, Iceland, Iran, Germany and the US, with further country visits planned this year to a number of key destinations.

BARCLAYS_COL 300dpiAsian equity markets have continued to pick up speed so far this summer, as manufacturing activity gathers pace. China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 51.7 in July, its strongest since April 2012, beating expectations.

Stimulus measures implemented by China seem to be having an effect, as Chinese equities, measured by the CSI 300 Index, rose more than 8%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index was up almost 7%. There were also strong gains for the Korean Kospi Index, while elsewhere there was a sharp July increase in factory activity in India and Taiwan.

Elsewhere, the US economic recovery faltered slightly in July, as job growth slowed and unemployment unexpectedly rose, but overall it remains on track, contributing to a second quarter GDP growth forecast of 4 per cent.

Against this background US equities fell, while spreads between long and short-dated Treasuries have narrowed, indicating a slowdown. The sedate pace of improvement has validated the Federal Reserve’s policy of reducing monetary easing, while holding off on any move to raise interest rates.

UK equities also fell slightly in July, as the FTSE100 lost ground for the second month in a row, although the index was up more than 2% for the second quarter as a whole.

Measures implemented by the European Central Bank in June, designed to boost the eurozone economy, failed to have the desired effect, as equity markets across the region lost ground. Tensions in Ukraine contributed, as several large European multinationals were hit by concerns over Russian investments.

The consequent poor manufacturing and inflation data piled more pressure on the ECB to enhance its easy monetary policy in the near future. The Euro fell against the US Dollar and German Bund yields were also down, as uncertain investors looked for safer havens.