Agri targeted by new China UK trade partnership
Small to medium sized agriculture firms across Britain wanting to enter the multi billion pound bi-lateral trade market between the UK and China are being targeted by an ambitious new partnership.
The partnership is being launched by North West based Mitchell Charlesworth one of the UKs leading independent accountants and Christine Lee & Co a law firm with offices in the UK, China and Hong Kong. Christine Lee & Co is the chief legal adviser to the Chinese embassy in London. It is further the only UK Chinese firm authorised by the Chinese Ministry of Justice to practise as a foreign law firm in China.
Launching the partnership Mitchell Charlesworth partner Paul Wainwright and Christine Lee director of Christine Lee & Co urged the SMEs from across the UK to seize the opportunities presented by the partnership.
Mr Wainwright said opportunities existed in China for UK SMEs across sectors including agriculture adding there is particular interest in grocery products, animal feed, fertiliser and raw materials . He said Chinese firms are keen to invest in firms to get a foothold in the UK market and produce products for the Chinese market.
Ms Lee urged firms to grasp the scale of China’s interest in the UK.
We cannot state this strongly enough, said Ms Lee. There is massive interest among SMEs in China to do business with their counterparts in the UK. To put that in context an estimated 250,000 Chinese SMEs actively want to do business in Britain. The type of business they want to do includes joint ventures, research and development and mergers and acquisitions. The stumbling block, however, is that many simply do not know how to do it and how to make contact with UK firms. The same goes for UK SMEs wanting to enter the China market. That is where this partnership comes in. We will act as a bridge between firms in the UK and China sharing contacts and expertise in the key areas of law and finance. We will help UK and Chinese SMEs find partners and make deals happen.
Mr Wainwright said:
The partnership will offer contacts in China and in depth understanding of law, finance and culture in both the UK and China, he said. We believe this is the first partnership of its kind specialising in bi-lateral trade advice to SMEs here and in China. With our background as an SME specialist with considerable expertise in tax, deal structures and due diligence we know we have a huge amount to offer together with Christine Lee & Cos knowledge of Chinese and UK law. Moreover with the Prime Minister wanting to increase bi-lateral trade with China to 60 billion a year by 2015 we know this is a terrific opportunity for the future. Furthermore we want small firms to be right at the forefront of those opportunities.
Wu Xiaomin the Chinese Embassys Manchester consul said the partnership is being launched at the right time.
This partnership will be an important link between Britain and China, he said. More Chinese businesses are coming to the region and they need help to understand British business and the culture here. This kind of trade is the future. And there are major opportunities for British businesses in China. It is very important to promote these opportunities.
Firms wanting more details should contact: Paul Wainwright Partner at Mitchell Charlesworth Tel: 0151 255 2300 Email Paul.Wainwright@mitchellcharlesworth.co.uk Web www.mitchellcharlesworth.co.uk
Christine Lee & Co
Christine Lee & Co. Solicitors has developed over some twenty years to offer a full spectrum of legal services, providing legal advice in both areas of EU and English Law as well as in the area of cross border commerce between the UK and China. We are currently the first and only UK Chinese firm authorised by the Chinese
Ministry of Justice to practice as a foreign law firm in China. Christine Lee & Co is the appointed Chief Legal Advisor to the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom.
It now have offices in London, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China, making us ideally placed to service the requirements of businesses wishing to trade or develop relations between China and the UK.
Services provided include:
Corporate / Commercial advice
? Corporate Immigration
? Property
? Employment Law
? Civil Litigation
? Family and Private Clients
? Agency work
Mitchell Charlesworth
Mitchell Charlesworth was formed over 125 years ago and has grown into one of the largest independent practices in the North West.
Operating with over 150 staff from five offices in Manchester, Liverpool, Widnes, Warrington and Chester the firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors provides a comprehensive range of services in the areas of financial and taxation advice.
Mitchell Charlesworth excel at working closely with its clients to ensure they maximise their full potential by using their experienced partners and staff as well as their extensive contact base in the financial markets to achieve the best results. Whether looking at business improvements, extending trade alternatives or ensuring the best deal is obtained in a business acquisition or disposal the services are led by partners with years of experience supported by a qualified and enthusiastic staffing team delivering:
* Statutory audit
? Accountancy
? Corporate & personal taxation
? Company acquisitions and disposals
? Management buyouts
? Due diligence
? VAT
? Tax Planning
? Pensions & Investment advice
? Payroll