Essex County Council, Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council have signed an agreement to create a long-term region-to-region collaboration to promote links between businesses, universities and industry associations to increase exchanges of trade, investment, knowledge and expertise.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development said: “I am delighted to have been able to sign this agreement and help pave the way for a prosperous future of inward investment within Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

“The relationship that Essex County Council has forged and enjoyed with the Jiangsu Province in China has thus far enabled us to showcase the opportunities Essex has for investment. This new agreement between Essex County Council, Suffolk County Council and Norfolk County Council is an excellent opportunity to now share this success, I look forward to working together to build an exciting and rewarding future for us all.”

Councillor Anne Steward, Norfolk County Council Portfolio holder for Economic Development said: “We are keen to ensure that every opportunity is explored to develop the supply chain for the East Anglian Array. It is up to us to ensure the right level of innovation and expertise is involved and that many jobs are created in Norfolk as a result.

“It is clear that the opportunities to attract inward investment from China are growing and the huge population represents a massive market for our own goods and services. Opportunities for joint ventures and partnerships in China are also growing with some Norfolk companies already having successfully trading arrangements, so joint working with our neighbouring counties is a good place to start.”

Councillor Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council's Portfolio Holder for the Greenest County, Economy and Skills said: “This is an excellent step forward for all three counties. China’s rapidly expanding economy offers many new businesses opportunities for Suffolk companies looking to tap into international markets.

“We recognise that China has become the engine of economic growth in the global economy and feel very strongly that sought after Suffolk products, such as clean energy, our creative industries, and food and drink have strong international appeal. We’re therefore extremely proud to be confirming our partnership with Essex and Norfolk and taking positive action to ensure that we help Suffolk businesses to prosper.”

This agreement will see Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk county councils work together over a two-year project to target and attract new inward investment from China, focusing on their strengths in the energy sector. In this respect, the agreement builds on the partnership already established between the three counties in April 2011 when the three county council leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding pledging to work together to provide the skills base that businesses in the energy sector will need to realise their growth potential.

The agreement will also see the counties develop joint projects to help businesses increase their exports to China, increase cultural exchanges, help county schools stimulate children to learn Chinese and to learn more about Chinese culture, help universities and vocational colleges to form profitable links with counterparts in China as well as attract more Chinese tourists to the three counties.

Essex will offer Norfolk and Suffolk county councils and the Norfolk and Suffolk Energy Alliance the opportunity to utilise Essex County Council’s relationships with the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government and to use the Essex office in Nanjing to identify and target potential inward investors in a cost-effective way.

They will also be able to leverage the presence in Essex of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government Representative to the UK who, being from the Jiangsu Department of Commerce, can help identify potential investors, encourage them to locate in the Essex/Suffolk/Norfolk area, help them navigate the Jiangsu outward investment regulatory process and provide them with additional support and encouragement to locate in the three counties. 

In March of this year all three county representatives will be participating in their first joint trip to China, visiting the cities of Nanjing, Wuxi and Kunshan over three days. Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu Province and is the base for many of the key government departments, industry associations, research institutes and universities in Jiangsu.

Wuxi is a leading city in China for renewable energy industries and home to important wind energy manufacturers. Wuxi also has China’s strongest photovoltaic cluster and is home to Suntech, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of PV cells.

On the final day the counties will be exhibiting at the China International Import Expo in Kunshan, close to Shanghai. The event is being organised by the China Chamber of International Commerce and the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government and is the first national-level import expo to actively promote the import of foreign products and technologies to China. Essex is working with the Jiangsu Provincial Government to organise a networking conference near the expo to promote the East Anglia Offshore Wind Energy industry.