Business

Jia Huai and Mayor of Bracknell Forest Councillor Jennie McCracken at a visit from Chinese delegates to Wellington College last year
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Bosses heading to Beijing to improve Bracknell's China links

By Julie Spencer
March 18, 2013

Bracknell bosses are heading to Beijing for a conference that could bring Chinese investment to the borough.

Their trip has been welcomed by business leaders who say contacts with China will pay off with investment and jobs in the next 25 to 30 years.

Timothy Wheadon, Bracknell Forest Council chief executive, and his deputy Victor Nicholls will travel to the China Enterprise Outbound Investment Conference as part of the British Chamber of Commerce Link to China delegation.

More than 1,000 Chinese entrepreneurs will be at the week-long conference which begins on April 15 looking for worldwide investment opportunities.

Peter Smith, president of Bracknell Chamber of Commerce, said: “Sitting around and waiting for investment and jobs to come to us is simply not an option.

“Delegations such as this one are a must do in today’s world.

“Attracting new investment takes time and energy; we all know it doesn’t happen overnight. This work will pay off with investment and jobs over the next 25 to 30 years.

“By acting now we can make sure that the business, learning and employment advantages Bracknell possesses will continue and grow for the future.”

David Cook, chairman of Bracknell Forest Economic and Skills Development Partnership, said: “This is a vital next step following on from last September’s successful visit to Bracknell Forest by Chinese investors and entrepreneurs.

“Guaranteeing the next generation of investment, jobs and a thriving community means going international so that our highly skilled workforce, quality of life and thriving business sector is at the forefront of investor thinking when they are planning expansion.

“We must seize every opportunity to showcase Bracknell Forest and attract new inward investors.

“This is what will keep us at the forefront of hi-tech industry and bring long term benefits for everyone living and working in Bracknell Forest.”

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Most recent user comments 4 of 4

Its interesting why the Council isn't sending the Executive Member as well - he has a business background. Logically he should go as well ... but sadly if the council said he was going then there would be an outcry on that as well ....

Sometimes the Council cant win .....

Tom Edwards, Priestwood, Bracknell
20/03/2013 at 11:21

Dealing with countries like China and Japan needs any delegation to consist of not just the leaders of the various bodies involved but also the representatives of the skilled staff who will be involved in the actual delivery. Any contact that does not include both has been shown by past experience to be doomed to failure.

PoneRana, Wokingham
19/03/2013 at 13:57

We really do need to be looking at future investment for the area and to that end this trip makes sense. I'm less sure that boss and deputy makes sense as they are two people doing basically the same job. Perhaps one of the places could have been filled by a local business representative to give a different slant.

timespassing
18/03/2013 at 17:02

Normally i would deride this as waste of tax payers money - but as a tax payer, on this occasion ... i actually say "well done" From my own business background, relationships with China take a long time to build and this is a good step forward.