Deadline approaching for the Greater China Awards

Time is running out for North West businesses to enter the Greater China Awards and earn recognition for their achievements in this exciting market.

The deadline (Monday 31 January) is approaching fast for North West businesses wanting to enter the Great China Awards, which ears recognition for their achievements in the exciting market.

The Greater China Awards will be announcing their winner soon (February 4 2011), at a celebratory meal to mark the start of the Chinese New Year. The event will be held at the Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester. Some of the occasion consists of an afternoon seminar with a panel of business experts. The seminar is open to all businesses with an interest in China and will include a wealth of information on selling, buying and partnering in Greater China.

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) are desperately looking for the final nominations for the prestigious awards.

The awards credit individuals, companies or organisations in the North West, which have made a noticeable contribution to developing business or relationships with mainland China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, during the past year (2010), including trade in both countries, or investment and education and community links.

The standard of entries for the competition is expected to be high as always, and one winner will be chosen for each of the following categories:

• The China Business Award – for companies which have had links with Greater China for more than three years.
• The China Rising Star Award – for companies which have had links with Greater China for less than three years.
• The China Education Links Award – for Universities or organisations which have had links with Greater China for more than three years.
• The China Recognition Award – for individuals or organisations which have made a significant contribution to helping North West businesses develop links with Greater China.

Evidence of a direct link between Greater China and North West England will be searched for by the judges. They will also be measuring each contestants approach to the scale of its China strategy on the overall success of the business or organisation.

Clive Drinkwater, Regional Director of UKTI, said: “Most businesses are aware of the huge potential offered in Greater China but it takes effort and dedication to do business there, as the nominations we have received so far prove.

“This year’s awards offer a fantastic opportunity to recognise those businesses which have done the most to strengthen the links between the regional economy and that of China and I urge all companies which have worked hard to succeed there to get their nominations in right away.”

The China Event is sponsored by Finnair and Manchester Airport.

Entry forms are available from Philomena Chen, UKTI’s Head of Asia Pacific Development. Contact her via email at philomena.chen@uktinorthwest.co.uk, by telephone on 0161 875 2328 or by fax on 0161 873 2234.

Completed forms should be returned to: Greater China Awards Panel 2010, c/o Philomena Chen, UKTI - North West International Trade Team, Warren Bruce Court, Warren Bruce Road, Manchester M17 1LB.

To book a place at the China Event or for a copy of the Awards application, contact Paul Yuan at paul.yuan@uktinorthwest.co.uk,
by telephone on 0161 875 2329 or by fax on 0161 873 2234.