2 August 2011
The first UK delegation of the chinese government body responsible for managing state-owned companies has been hosted by global management and technical consultancy, WYG in recognition of the company’s launch into the China market.
Senior government officials from the ‘State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council for the Peoples Republic of China’ (SASAC) were met by WYG’s CEO Paul Hamer as well as regional directors Keith Perry and Paul Grover, both of whom have developed close working relationships with individuals and companies in China to facilitate the company’s expansion into the country.
The focus for the SASAC delegation was business governance practices in the UK. Having worked with an array of national authorities, international development agencies and local stakeholders, WYG was able to draw upon an extensive global track record in the field of business governance in order to expand the discussion to include economic reform and economic diversification.
Paul Hamer, Chief Executive Officer, WYG said: “We are greatly honoured to be selected to host the SASAC delegation on their first mission to the UK. We are now looking to foster an ongoing relationship with SASAC by seeking to arrange further meetings with the delegates back in Beijing.
“As part of our strategy to expand our international business operations we are working hard to develop the right relationships in China and we have recently appointed a business development director, Lily Shi to help facilitate this.”
Lily has previously worked in Shanghai for the British Chamber of Commerce as well as two international consulting companies in the development sector. Working out of WYG’s launchpad Shanghai office, Lily will be using her extensive contacts throughout China to propel the organisation’s growth across the country.
The consultancy has also completed a signing with the China Britain Business Council (CBBC) on a ‘Launchpad scheme’ and made alliances with the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) which will help the organisation to expand operations into the China market.
Paul continued: “We are delighted to have Lily on board and look forward to using her expertise to drive WYG across China. As well as developing WYG’s relationship with the SASAC, Lily will also be working closely with CBBC in Shanghai and through their network of 11 offices across China to identify opportunities to support WYG’s growth in the region.
“The launchpad scheme with CBBC provides WYG with the ideal foundation in providing consulting services that meet the needs of China and its people.”
Cheryl Low, Executive Director, CBBC, said: “We are delighted that WYG has joined the CBBC Launchpad scheme. In China there is a demand for the kinds of innovative environmental solutions offered by WYG, and CBBC is very much looking forward to playing a role in the launch of WYG’s China strategy.”
WYG’s success in China follows on from last year’s involvement in the World Expo in Shanghai, where the company was one of the sponsors for the Liverpool Pavilion in the Urban Best Practice Arena, as well as being responsible for managing the structural engineering elements of the UK ‘Seed’ Pavilion which was an iconic symbol of the Expo.