WeChat - helping the North West become the driving force for UK-Chinese trade

  • Infrastructure
  • 09.10.2018 06:18 am

Manchester is leading the way and taking a major step forward in Britain’s global trade partnerships in the post-Brexit era. In the last two years, the city has trail-blazed a series of trade, investment, education and tourism partnerships with China - the world’s second largest economy – and now, for the first time, this has been connected by a social network for the Chinese community. At a time when direct links between the UK and China via trade are relatively small – with only 4% of UK exports going to China[1] – Manchester is looking to the future and recognises that China is going to play an important role in the world economy for the next century. In addition to China becoming a key player in global supply chains, one of the most significant economic trends in the world is the rise of the Chinese consumer, which presents a significant opportunity for British business.

As a global tech consultancy with a major presence in Manchester, ThoughtWorks is pioneering a digital platform that will allow Chinese people that visit the city to book transport, buy soccer tickets, make retail purchases and hotel bookings on the WeChat mobile App. Significantly, the new platform, used by 963 million people monthly worldwide, gives Chinese visitors a ‘home away from home experience’ when visiting Manchester, with access to a familiar digital and social media platform they use in China. 

This digital innovation responds to Manchester’s rise as the UK’s leading city for driving forward a business and cultural partnership with China that represents a mutual investment and future cooperation and economic growth. 

●      Export values from Manchester to China are up 41% to £1.29 billion in the last two years – while national values fell 30% over the same period.

●      11 Chinese inward investment projects have been converted in the last two years – whilst inward investment from China to Manchester has tripled in last two years. 

●      Total Chinese visitor spend in Manchester has broken the £260 million barrier over the last 24 months.

●      Total visits to the north west and spend by Chinese tourists have grown more than both London and the UK average between 2015 and 2017.

●      The amount spent per Chinese tourist in the north west is up 94% in a year – and is now 5% higher than the national average.

●      Universities in the north west now have partnerships with more than 20 Chinese universities – and there has been a 114% increase in northern students securing work internships in China.

●      The number of Chinese students in Greater Manchester has grown by 9% in two years (compared to 4% nationally).

●      In terms of direct travel, Manchester-Beijing has become the fastest growing direct UK-China flight route. This has resulted in record passenger numbers travelling between Manchester and Beijing – up 80% in 2 years.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said: “We’re proud of the strong links Greater Manchester has with China, not least with the increasing number of visitors who visit our city region each year. The app is a great way of making Greater Manchester even more of a home away from home for Chinese visitors and students alike.”

Ruth Harrison Managing Director of ThoughtWorks UK commented“In recent months, some have seen the rise of China as a threat. The USA has adopted a protectionist trade strategy, and here in the UK the Bank of England has recently warned of the ripple effect of a Chinese slowdown in UK GDP. These issues largely miss the point though. China today is already twice the size of all the other BRICS countries put together, we have seen the rise of Chinese consumerism as an economic force – and the country is set to become the world’s biggest economy. In this context – and given the huge uncertainty of the UK’s trade relationships with mainland Europe, it makes sense to forge strong relationships with China. Manchester is proud to have a vibrant Chinese community and it is time to build a stronger future together.”

Mark Collin, Group Director of ThoughtWorks Ventures added: “With tens of thousands of Chinese people arriving in Manchester every year – on business, to study or visiting as tourists – it is vital that they have access to a familiar digital platform that makes Manchester a truly welcoming destination for visitors. Along with Amsterdam, Montreal, Vancouver and London, Manchester stands as one of leading cities of the world to digitise an everyday relationship with China by tailoring a digital platform that is familiar to the Chinese community and makes foreign cities feel like home. WeChat is not just about providing convenience – it’s also becoming a way to identify the cities of the world that are leading a new era of economic and cultural partnership with China.”

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