Seize Chinese chance, Scottish businesses urged

The Scottish government and business leaders expressed a positive welcome for deeper supply-chain cooperation with Chinese partners during a matchmaking event organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, or CCPIT, in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Ren Hongbin, chairman of the CCPIT, led a delegation of around 40 Chinese companies in sectors such as clean energy, smart manufacturing, trade and finance to the event, which was seen as the biggest Chinese commerce delegation to visit Scotland since United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer went to Beijing in late January.

Ren said the meeting between leaders of China and the UK has set a new course for bilateral relations, promoting the expansion of economic collaboration, and he encouraged Scottish businesses to further tap the potential of industrial and supply chain cooperation, as China and the UK enjoy highly complementary industry structures.

In June, CCPIT will host the 4th China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, which in its previous editions has seen the participation of global giants like Apple and Tesla, as well as so-called hidden champions in supply chains of various sectors.

"As China's largest nationwide trade, investment and industry promotion agency, CCPIT stands ready to work with UK partners to seize opportunities, aim higher, and turn the great potential of China-UK cooperation into tangible results," said Ren.

First Minister John Swinney, the head of the Scottish government, sent a message to the event, saying that he hopes to continue to strengthen the longstanding relationship between Scotland and China through business, diaspora, education, and culture.

John Primrose, deputy director of exports and inward investment of the Scottish government, said China is one of Scotland's most important trading partners, particularly in industries such as whisky and salmon, and Scotland welcomes the reduction of China's tariffs on whisky in January.

Primrose also highlighted a new Invest Scotland Gateway program as a single access point for large investor-ready opportunities, from ports and grids to housing and storage, with more projects being added as the pipeline grows.

"We very much welcome Chinese companies that recognize our potential as a great place to invest," he said. "Let us continue to strengthen ties between Scotland and China, fostering shared links, and celebrating the tremendous partnerships which are delivering so much for our people."

Aileen Keyes, international tax and trade director of Diageo, which owns the popular Scottish whisky brand Johnnie Walker, said it sees China as a hugely important market, and the group has committed to multi-million dollar investment in opening a whisky distillery in Yunnan province and an R&D center in Shanghai.

Grant Richardson, CEO of Sunamp, a leading thermal energy storage provider based in Scotland, said the company already has Chinese supply chain partners in Jiangsu province, and together they recently opened up a new production line there to tap into the Asia-Pacific market.

"The Chinese partners have been exceptionally helpful, flexible, enthusiastic, and open in terms of sharing their information and knowledge, and of the capabilities that they have to support us," said Grant, adding that he plans to visit the new facility later this year.

"The research and development that comes from the UK is excellent, and China has exceptional capabilities to produce products at scale and high quality, and I think that's why it makes the collaboration between the two countries even more important," he added.

Zhang Yuxuan, director of business development for Asia at the Scottish hydrogen technology company Logan Energy, said supply chains for hydrogen energy solutions are extensive, with many areas where Chinese and UK companies can complement each other.

"Chinese and UK companies excel in different areas and have expertise in their respective regional markets, so with a joint venture, we can provide better products for our clients both in Asia and Europe," he said.