Dreaming of success on China trade mission

Northern Ballet’s latest show, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, will add a dash of artistic flair to a major trade and cultural mission which hopes to forge stronger links between Yorkshire and China.

Some of the key figures behind the trip gathered at Leeds Bradford International Airport yesterday as they prepared for a mission that could bring jobs and investment to Yorkshire.

Roger Marsh, the chairman of the Leeds City Region LEP, Lurene Joseph, chief executive of Leeds and Partners, and Martin Lunt, head of corporate banking at HSBC in Yorkshire, were joined by dancers from Northern Ballet on the runway.

A spokesman said: “The mission will raise the profile of the City Region, and is the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership for growth that is hoping to secure investment, business expansion and jobs growth. Specifically, this visit will be seeking to generate growth in the financial and professional services sector in the region.”

Supported by performances from Northern Ballet, the delegation will be targeting mid-size cities such as Xiamen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou, as well as major cities including Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, for two weeks from January. 13

The visit is being supported by public and private sector partners, including DLA, HSBC, British Airways, Bond Dickinson, JLL, Deloitte, KPMG, LBIA, Shulmans, Marsh, the University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University, TCS, The City UK, The Bigword, and Yorkshire Bank.

The proposed schedule includes a breakfast trade seminar at the British Consulate in Hong Kong, and a round table discussion with Guangzhou legal services professionals, in conjunction with the local law society.

In Hangzhou, the delegation is due to take part in a lunchtime business networking event featuring 10 to 15 Chinese female entrepreneurs. The mission’s itinerary includes an evening business networking event in Beijing.

n To watch the video, go to yorkshirepost.co.uk/video