Strong Northern Ireland business delegation in China

The delegation, among the biggest-ever from Northern Ireland, will be visiting Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai, and comprises 34 companies and the University of Ulster.

The mission is being assisted by commercial staff at British consulates in China and Invest NI’s own team based in Shanghai. Each of the participating companies has a schedule of pre-arranged meetings with Chinese businesses.

Ten companies in the delegation are visiting China for the first time with an Invest NI trade mission. They include Biocolor, a Newtownabbey developer of diagnostic chemicals,  Daly Golf, a supplier of golf equipment, Grafton, one of the leading UK staff recruitment businesses, DSV Campbell Freight, a shipping company; HMC Global, a specialist in sales outsourcing, MacNabb Bros, a supplier of waste products for recycling, Omiino, a developer of silicon technology for telecommunications networks, Rutledge Joblink, a recruitment and training agency, Urban Forest, an animal bedding manufacturer, and Watts and Stone, a supplier of equestrian and water sports equipment.

In addition to trade and business partnerships several companies in the delegation are visiting China to explore opportunities for the manufacture of a range of components and products, including clothing and precision engineered parts.

Among the companies which have established business in China are Andor Technology, Belfast, which has an office in Beijing, Alpha Environmental, Coleraine which has carried out pollution clean-up projects, and Fast Engineering, Antrim, a supplier of pollution clean up equipment for use in combating oil spills.

The University of Ulster has also developed partnerships with leading Chinese universities on technology exchanges.

Alan Hingston, Invest NI’s Trade Director, commenting on the delegation, said: “The size of this mission indicates that China, because of the extent of the business opportunities offered in the world’s biggest and most dynamic market, continues to be the most popular market for our companies. We organise two missions to China annually and both are among our most successful.

“Over the years, we’ve introduced many smaller companies to the vast Chinese marketplace and most have secured business there because of the quality of their products or services, and their focus on servicing the specific requirements of customers in Hong Kong and other parts of China.

“The high level of interest in China shown by our companies encouraged us to set up an office and a dedicated business adviser in Shanghai. We also continue to work closely with and to benefit from the experience of commercial staff in Hong Kong and other centres across the country.”

The delegation will be in Hong Kong, from 23-26 November; Guangzhou, from 26-29 November; and in Shanghai from 29 November to 3 December.

The Northern Ireland business delegation to China 23 November – 3 December 2008:

Alpha Environmental, Coleraine - environmental technology and pollution clean-up techniques

Andor Technology, Belfast – scientific cameras

Audio Processing Technology, Belfast – audio compression solutions

Biocolor, Newtownabbey - diagnostic chemistry kits

Botanica International, Newry - veterinary and human herbal treatments;

Cooneen Textiles, Fivemiletown - a supplier of garments including children’s night attire

Cooneen Watts and Stone, Fivemiletown - a manufacturer of military clothing

Cutting Industries, Lisburn - cutting services for industry

Dale Farm, Belfast – dairy products

Daly Golf, Downpatrick - golf equipment company

Delta Print and Packaging, Belfast – folded cartons

DSV Campbell Freight, Belfast - freight and logistics provider

Fast Engineering, Antrim - portable water storage systems

Finrone, Strabane - animal housing

Glover Site Investigations, Ballymoney - site investigations especially for wind turbines

Grafton Recruitment, Belfast - staff recruitment

Greenfields Ireland, Belfast - dairy marketing business

Hamilton Shipping, Belfast - logistics and shipping services

Hawk Protection, Belfast - personnel protection clothing

HMC Global, Belfast - sales outsourcing consultancy

Hutchinson Power, Magherafelt – power generating machinery

IBC Trading, Newtownards - musical instruments

MacNabb Bros Waste Management, Downpatrick - waste recycling

Marlborough Engineering, Belfast – precision engineering

Omiino, Belfast - silicon technology

Richard Atkinson, Newtownabbey – manufacture of ties

Rutledge Joblink, Coleraine - recruitment and training agency

Scruttons, Belfast - stevedoring services

Tractormatic, Lisburn – tractor spares

TR Shipping, Belfast – logistics

Turkington Engineering, Cookstown – boilers and incinerators

University of Ulster, Newtownabbey - education courses and technology transfer

Urban Forest, Newry - eco-bedding for animals

Ulster Weavers Home Fashions, Belfast – domestic textiles

Watts and Stone, Fivemiletown - supplier of equestrian and water sports equipment.