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Chinese textile base is unveiled
Wigan's amazing link with China will be officially unveiled this week.
A press conference scheduled for Haigh Hall on Thursday will reveal that the Metro has reached a deal to release 20 hectares of the prestigious Westwood Park for a ground-breaking complex which will be used to showcase China's textile manufacturing expertise.
The project, exclusively revealed by the Post almost two years ago, will create over 1,000 manufacturing and clerical support jobs, and will act as a catalyst for a further flow of employment, creating inward investment. Last month, during his visit to China, Gordon Brown, who was accompanied by Makerfield MP Ian McCartney, said: "I want to take steps to make the United Kingdom the prime location in Europe for inward Chinese investment.
"There are now in total 350 mainland Chinese companies investing in the UK."
During the trip, Mr Brown and China's Premier, Wen Jiabao, signed up to a new target for a 50% increase in bilateral trade in goods and services, rising to 30bn by 2010. That represents more trade than between Britain and Australia or Britain and Mexico.
Developers CGP have been working closely with China Chamber of Commerce for the import and export of textiles. The chamber represents 70% of all Chinese textile manufacturers with more than 6,300 member companies.
And they highly rate the former power station site because of its natural environment and its proximity to the West Coast Main Line, the motorway network and the town centre.
Council chiefs have hailed the scheme for directly linking Wigan and the North West with the world's largest and fastest-growing economic powerhouse.
It currently proposes creating a textile manufacturing hub that would become home to a large number of Chinese companies seeking trade and investment opportunities across Europe.
But it will also bring borough wide bonuses such as an increase in skills, enhanced local economic performance and the chance to draw in further financial support to fund the necessary diversion of the A49 into Westwood.
It will be centred around a single large exhibition and trade centre, using a formula already applied with success across China and in Dubai.
Buyers and manufacturers will be brought together with trade sectors to do business.
With the quality end UK apparel and textile trade currently undergoing a significant resurgence, timing is seen as critical. And the textile design, research and development facility envisaged – which will have links to higher and further education centres across the region – is seen as a key to its success.
There will also be manufacturing space where UK branded products will be produced and distributed worldwide.
The development will include a quality hotel catering for the large numbers of national and international buyers and visitors.
Metro council leader Lord Smith said: "The development would be an enormous regeneration opportunity for the area. It would bring substantial job opportunities and economic benefits to our borough and we are currently looking to make sure these opportunities are targeted towards local people."
"The UK, particularly the North West, is seen by the Chinese as a clear business opportunity, and Wigan, halfway between Liverpool and Manchester, is ideally positioned."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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