BEIJING, China, Dec. 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Confederation of British
Industry (CBI), UK's foremost business lobbying organization, announces that
Andy Scott, Director of International and UK Operations, is visiting China
from the 10th to the 15th December, as part of CBI's increasing engagement
with the world's fastest growing major economy.
With China's annual economic growth rates of around 10%, and greater
interest from UK companies towards China, the links between the UK and China
are becoming ever more important. The UK is China's 3rd largest trading
partner in terms of total bilateral trade, which stood at more than 32bn USD
in 2005. Andy Scott, as Director of International and UK Operations at the
Confederation of British Industry (CBI), is responsible for CBI's
international activities, as well as the work of CBI's 13 regional offices in
the UK. This visit will be a key opportunity for him to get a better
understanding of the business environment for British Companies in China, and
the role the CBI can take in supporting these companies and the growth of
bilateral economic ties.
The trip will include meetings with CBI's key members in China, as well
as local government, representatives of the British and European business
communities, and visits to the British and European Chambers of Commerce, the
British Embassy in Beijing, the China Britain Business Council (CBBC), and a
meeting with the new Consul General in Guangzhou, Brian Davidson. The visit
will take a deliberately regional focus. In addition to Beijing, Mr. Scott
will be visiting several key second tier cities, including Dalian, Qingdao,
Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Main themes of the visit will tie in with CBI's
areas of interest in China, and it is also intended that the visit will also
pave the way for visits from other senior directors of CBI later in the year.
CBI opened an office in China (Beijing) in February 2006 due to
increasing recognition of the importance of China in the global economy, and
in order to better serve the needs of a growing number of CBI members with
business interests here. In addition to front-line engagement with member
companies, the office monitors relevant policy developments and liaises with
the UK and international offices to better inform CBI's strategic thinking.
CBI China works closely with UK Trade and Investment, the China Britain
Business Council and the British Chamber of Commerce. Guy Dru Drury, Chief
Representative of the CBI in China states "CBI is coming to the end of its
first year in China. In our second year here, we look forward to
strengthening our relations with government, and building a presence country-
wide, not just in Beijing."
"China's influence on the world is already extremely apparent. We hope
that the tipping point for UK business in China will come in 2007,
particularly with the increased opening of the financial and service sectors."
Andy Scott says, "This will be my 5th visit to China in the last 24
months, underlying the importance we attach to furthering two way trade and
investment opportunities between the UK and China. The UK has much to offer
China and by establishing our own office in Beijing we have demonstrated our
commitment to this expanding trading relationship."
About CBI
The CBI is the UK's foremost business lobbying organisation, representing
more than 240,000 businesses worldwide, including 80% of FTSE 100 companies
and counting global names such as BP, Shell, Tesco, B&Q, Rolls Royce and HSBC
as members. The CBI has 13 offices in the UK, and 3 international offices in
Washington, Brussels and (as of January 2006), Beijing. The CBI has around
500 members in China.
The CBI has a unique stance: it is not government funded, giving it an
impartial voice in representing the interests of British businesses to
government. Under the new director, Richard Lambert, the CBI will retain its
attention to its core policy issues, while focusing in depth on the
protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and on the importance of
climate change for business and government. These are both issues of key
concern to UK businesses and areas in which the CBI can contribute to
development of policy that takes into account the interests of all
stakeholders, including business. CBI China responds to member needs in
China, as well as contributing to CBI's UK policy thinking on China-related
issues.
About Andy Scott
Andy Scott is responsible for the CBI's international activities,
including the offices in Washington and Beijing and the work of the CBI's 13
regional offices in the UK.
He started his career with the CBI as a Policy Adviser on Education and
Training issues in 1973 and in the early ‘80s was Head of the Fuel and
Energy Department. Subsequently he was appointed Deputy Director for Regions
and Smaller Firms. From 1991 he assumed responsibility as Director for
Manufacturing Industries to support the work of the CBI National
Manufacturing Council.
In 1995 he became Director of International Competitiveness covering best
practice and benchmarking activities; advocacy for the UK manufacturing
sector; policy work to develop the UK's research, development, technology and
innovation capability; e-business and overall responsibility for the CBI's
work on international trade and investment and export promotion.
He assumed his current responsibilities in May 2005, retaining the
international portfolio and taking up the management of the CBI's regional
structure in the UK.
He is a member of the CBI Management Board, a Director of PSL Ltd, a
Director of the Indo-British Partnership Network, and a Board member of the
China-Britain Business Council.
He is married with two daughters.
