The Chinese Minister Counsellor for Economic & Commercial Affairs, Ms. Bao Ling, visited Bedford on Tuesday, 22 October to learn more about the town as a destination of choice for Chinese investments.
The visit showcased the ongoing investment and business potential within Bedford. Bedford’s unique position within the Oxford-Cambridge-Arc was of particular interest, with regards to technology, research, business and infrastructure.
During the visit, the Minister Counsellor was guided through the investment opportunities with a tour of multiple development sites including the proposed Bedford Business Park at Kempston Hardwick and the developed Bedford Commercial Park – both of which could become key players in the town’s growing research and development sector.
The Minister Counsellor also visited the Town Centre and Riverside to learn more about the history, heritage and natural beauty of Bedford. The visit finished with a meeting at the Mayor’s Parlour where the Mayor shared the exciting opportunities ahead for Bedford with the Minister Counsellor.
Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford said of the official visit:
“I have had the honour of welcoming the Minister Counsellor to Bedford where I have been able to showcase our great town as the ideal location for Chinese investment. During the visit, we spent time discussing the wonderful developments which have already benefited.
“This visit was a fantastic opportunity to advertise the opportunities of Bedford and put our town on the world map.”
The visit was organised by Ms Shen Kan, the director of Cloud Wing UK Limited– the company looking to develop the brownfield sites surrounding Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick – which is expected to create around 1,000 homes and up to 15,000 new jobs.
Ms Kan thanked the Counsellor-Minister for attending the tour, adding:
“It has been an honour to meet the Counsellor-Minister and explain the importance of Bedford for ourselves and Chinese investors. We have been big fans of Bedford, and we would love for more Chinese investors to realise that.”
For more information on the Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Brickwork projects, please visit: www.bedfordbrickworks.co.uk.
