Chinese New Year celebration brings business leaders together

Business leaders joined celebrations at the city’s CEDP (Chinese Educational Development Project) Centre last weekend to welcome in the Year of the Pig.

As well as a spectacular show that included traditional lion dancing and musical performances from local school and college children, the annual event, now in its 19th year, included a business element for the first time.  

The event was designed to explore the opportunities and challenges of doing business with China.

Max Woodford, Brighton & Hove City Council's assistant director of regeneration and investment, gave an overview of the Greater Brighton Inward Investment & Trade Strategy before inviting members of the audience to direct their questions to a panel of business experts. 

The strategy has been developed to help the City Region realise its potential as one of the UK’s leading locations for investment and trade.

Panellists included Brighton & Hove City Council chief executive Geoff Raw; John McLean OBE, chairman of several China based companies as well as a Vice Chairman of the Institute of Directors (IoD); Dr Aijuan Wang, Strategic Development Director of China at Mott MacDonald; and Xabi Izaguirre, Head of Planning at Oban International..

The CEDP Chinese Centre provides a platform to bring businesses together and to offer opportunities for volunteers to contribute their skills and resources to Brighton & Hove.  

The centre welcomes passionate and talented people to join the volunteer team and everyone is welcome to join in celebrating the year of the rat next year on 25 January 2020!