North East aims to promote ‘attractive opportunities’ to Chinese investors

Business leaders from 22 North East companies have taken part in a roundtable debate regarding Chinese investment in the region.

Over the last decade, the UK has been a top tier recipient of Chinese investment in Europe, and globally.

Last year the government announced £30bn of deals where Chinese capital would be investing in the UK.

The roundtable debates aim to further understand the impact of Chinese interest in the North of England, and to explore the key challenges and opportunities to better promote this region to foreign investors.

Phil Dyer, Atkins’ director for the Northern Powerhouse, said: “The North East is full of attractive opportunities for Chinese investors. China is already investing here and we want to help build on that enthusiasm.

“The conversations we are having through these workshops mean we can now help developers prepare the best and most attractive opportunities to our investor community in China.”

Organised by Atkins and Invest Newcastle, with support from Invest North East England, the discussion saw business leaders identify and debate a wide range of issues.

Among the issues discussed was the types of opportunities a devolution deal can offer the North East and how Brexit will affect the region.

Attendees also debated the need to create a growth narrative that sets out what the North East is trying to achieve in terms of outcomes, and a portfolio of investments that allow these outcomes to be delivered.

And finally, the roundtable addressed ways in which the North East’s vision can be promoted on a world stage and how this can be done in a joined up way with the private and public sector.

Catherine Walker, inward investment director at Invest Newcastle, said: “Newcastle is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign investors. Now is the time to identify a strategic approach, allowing us to secure international private sector investment to launch and accelerate key projects.

“The roundtable was a fantastic first step in bringing together key businesses and stakeholders in Newcastle, and the wider North East, to deliver a unified message and strong proposition of investment opportunities.

“We’re working to continue this momentum through our attendance at MIPIM 2017 where we will be joined by at least 20 private sector businesses – showcasing to the global property and investor market the opportunities Newcastle has to offer.”

Bill Huang, director, Chinese investor relations, Atkins, added: “Our discussion in the North East was another fantastic opportunity to gather valuable feedback and intelligence which I will be able to take to influential clients in China.

“The North East is already well known for Japanese investment, with Nissan being the area’s largest private employer. We need to build on this success and broaden the appeal to other global investors to achieve future infrastructure goals.”

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