Businesses should be on their marks for Beijing gold

Jul 22 2008 By Mark Eaton

With less than a month to go to the start of the Olympics, China is definitely set to take the world stage.

I’ve just returned from a market visit which included Beijing and the people are so proud of the fact that they are set to stage this massive event. But they are keen to point out that China is not going to be closed for business during the Olympics. The sea change we have seen recently is the fact that China is now looking at two-way trade.

For many years, it was very much a case of China looking to gain investment from the West but now it’s changed and money is filtering out too.

During the Olympics, security will definitely be enhanced and that is only what you would expect for an event of this magnitude – anywhere in the world.

As for the infrastructure, it is very impressive and I believe that will really bring home to the rest of the world the advances China has made.

The new terminal at Beijing Airport was running effectively and efficiently straightaway – unlike a new terminal a bit closer to home. There are high-speed rail links around the airport such is the sheer size and scale and it is a very impressive operation.

Also on our way from the airport I saw a car park that was filled with around 1,000 52-seater coaches and when I asked what they were for I was told that they will be used to transport people to and from events and that certain roads will be closed off to cars to allow easy access for the coaches.

The sporting facilities are outstanding too and I think China will really make a great impression on the world.

However, there was much, much more to our trade visit than the Olympics, a great deal of good work was carried out.  We have such fantastic links as a region to China and that was underlined again.

One of the party offers bespoke software and, as well as already having secured deals in the Far East, is two years ahead of where he ordinarily would be in China because of the contacts he has struck up while on our missions.

All I would say to every business in the West Midlands is that there are still great opportunities in China and, no matter what your discipline, it is worth investigating.

Businesses in the transport and advance engineering sectors heard first hand what opportunities could be available at a workshop organised by the Chamber of Commerce last week.

* Mark Eaton, is head of the International Trade Team, at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.