The business community in Kent launched the LinkToChina Programme with Kent County Council and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday this week.
80 representatives of local businesses gathered at Kent Invicta Chamber’s office on the cold winter morning for the breakfast event. A strong panel of experts from BCC LinkToChina and its strategic partners Wilkins Kennedy, HSBC, GCS Ltd, and Blake Lapthorn as well as representative from UK Trade & Investment in the Southeast discussed how the LinkToChina programme can help SMEs in Kent in do business with China.
Alex King MBE, Deputy Leader of Kent County Council who started the seminar said “Kent has one of the largest SME communities in the UK and the Link to China project presents a perfect opportunity for businesses to grow in these difficult times. When trading in foreign lands it’s important for businesses to have friends that help pave the way and this project makes that possible. We are delighted to be supporting the Chamber in this event”
Jo James, Chief Exec, Kent Invicta Chamber which will be the hub for the programme in the Kent area emphasised the importance of businesses daring to take the step into new markets and how the Link to China project will represent a major step in the Chambers international activities. She went on to say the project offers access to an impressive geographical spread within China and this combined with the Government’s recent trade activities will be great for business and great for Kent.
LinkToChina and the partners were impressed by the interest shown by the local business community in Kent and is planning to work closely with the SMEs in the area.
Trade missions and major business matchmaking events are being planned for 2012.
The Programme has already released two issues of opportunity bulletins.
Bulletin No.3 containing a number of propositions by UK companies will be released on Monday 23rd of January (Chinese New Year Day) and will be available to view on the LinkToChina website.
Bulletin No.4 containing a number of China market opportunities and proposals will be released on Friday the 27th January . Those companies who have signed up with the LinkToChina programme and are added to the website will automatically receive an alert when each Bulletin is released.
BCC LinkToChina 