UK Day strengthens commercial ties between the UK and China
A special UK Creative Industries Day hosted today (28 May) will strengthen commercial ties in the sector between the UK and China.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) hosted a special UK Creative Industries Day in Beijing to strengthen commercial ties in the sector between the UK and China.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) hosted a special UK Creative Industries Day in Beijing to strengthen commercial ties in the sector between the UK and China. Titled ‘The International Visual Communication Association Seminar’, the half-day event was held alongside the inaugural China International Trade in Services Fair (CIFTIS) which takes place from 28 May to 1 June.
The event, which is sponsored by UKTI and organised by the International Visual Communication Association (IVCA) and the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of China (China 4A), provides companies from both countries with a platform for experience sharing and business to business networking and for facilitating trade opportunities. Led by IVCA, a group of renowned British creative companies showcased best practice and case studies, sharing their experience in delivering the most extraordinary experience, and highlighting creative industries trends and areas of particular UK expertise.
The UK has one of the largest and most diverse creative industry sectors in the world and is home to world-renowned businesses in advertising, fashion, TV, film, design, architecture and the experience economy, benefiting from the extensive creative talent found in the UK. The British creative industries employ some 1.5 million people and account for 2.89% of UK Gross Value Added. Centres of creative excellence can be found across the country, offering expertise in a wide range of areas and exporting billions of pounds worth of creative products and services each year.
In the film industry, British expertise in digital technology and the technical aspects of computer-generated effects make the UK a leader in film post-production. In television, the UK is Europe’s largest exporter of television programmes, and is the world’s second largest exporter, after the US. In the music industry, Britain is the world’s fourth largest music market and also one of only two net exporters of music in the world. In video gaming industry, Britain also has the world’s largest video game producers, with 13% of the world’s most successful video game development studios located in the UK.
On 27 May, prior to the UK Day event, Sebastian Wood, the British Ambassador to China, hosted a reception to welcome the IVCA UK Creative Mission to China at his residence. During the reception, Sebastian said:
Creativity is part of Great Britain’s DNA. The UK Creative Industry sector is world renowned for its innovation and originality. The UK can act as a strategic hub to help those Chinese companies and organizations seeking to internationalise their brand. I hope that new collaborations will be formed between Chinese and UK companies as a result of the meetings today and during the delegation’s visit to China.
Marco Forgione, CEO of IVCA said:
IVCA members have established close partnerships with organisations and companies across China, helping create innovative communication, such as Shanghai’s new promotional film. I have a firm personal commitment to bringing the best of UK creative talent to work with China’s successful and growing brands and organisations, and we are keen to support even great successes in the coming years.
The UK and China have committed to promoting trade and investment between the two countries in the coming years and creative industries are one of the focuses. As the two economies become increasingly complementary, the UK has the goods and services, experience and skills to match China’s ambition to move up the value chain.
Last year, Minister of State for Trade and Investment Lord Green led a group of 53 companies to attend the CIFTIS. That was the largest ever group of UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to visit China.