On Monday (3 December) Sandwell will host a delegation of government officials from the city of Jinhua in China, helping to build links between our regions.

Sandwell has in place a Friendship Agreement with the Mayor of Jinhua – signed during the delegation’s visit in 2016. This year’s visit is being organised to strengthen our mutual ties, generating interest and possible investment in Sandwell from businesses with Jinhua city and the wider Zhejiang Province. There is scope to develop further links on cultural, economic and academic bases.

The visit will take place on Monday morning at the Hawthorns, home to West Bromwich Albion Football Club. Attendees will include Zhang Yuejin, deputy chairman of Jinhua Municipal Political Consultative Conference, and Councillor Syeda Khatun, our deputy leader at Sandwell Council.

During the morning, Sandwell Council’s Director for Regeneration and Growth Amy Harhoff will deliver a presentation showcasing Sandwell’s business capability and the strategic location of our borough.

Representatives from Sandwell Business Ambassadors will give a first-hand account of the benefits of operating a growing  business in Sandwell, with wider regional perspectives offered by the CEO of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Corin Crane.

Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Investment, will also be in attendance.  He said: “We are honoured, once again, to welcome our colleagues from Jinhua and to have the opportunity to represent Sandwell as a place of industry, great skill and innovation.

“Our continued relationship is an important international friendship and I am incredibly optimistic about the potential for Chinese investment in Sandwell”.

Think Sandwell has been told that Jinhua government is keen for a reciprocal visit from Sandwell delegates in 2019.