The port in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The southern province is an important manufacturing center in China and even globally. Provided to China Daily

The governments of Guangdong province and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will jointly host a business promotion event on Oct 27 in Poland to fortify trade and investment with the eastern European nation.

"More than 1,000 distinguished guests from government, industry and commerce as well as financial circles in Poland and other EU countries are expected to attend," Liang Yaowen, director general of the Guangdong foreign trade and economic cooperation department, said in a recent exclusive interview.

"In addition to a wide range of trade opportunities, Guangdong will promote key projects to potential investors in IT, infrastructure, heavy industry, chemicals, machinery, logistics and tertiary industries," Liang said.

The Guangdong delegation will also sign contracts for several massive projects and host business consultations on projects and policy during the event, he said.

"Guangdong and Poland have long had excellent trade and economic cooperation and this year marks the 10th anniversary of the sister relationship between Guangdong and the province of West Pomerania," he said.

"That partly explains why we will go for the campaign."

Complementary economic structures, markets and resources also interest Guangdong's planners in closer ties with Poland, he explained.

Poland's position as the biggest economy in eastern Europe, its geographical location at the crossroads of the continent and its rapidly growing consumer market make it ideal for Guangdong's foreign trade, he said.

The 2012 European Championships in soccer will be held in Poland, further signaling its growing influence, he said.

For its part, Guangdong has competitive advantages in supplying machinery and electrical equipment, chemicals, finished metals, light industrial products and porcelains, all important imports for Poland.

The Chinese province needs agricultural products, timber and raw minerals, sectors that are all well developed in Poland.

Guangdong's trade with Poland was worth $1.61 billion in the first eight months of this year, an increase of 10.2 percent from a year ago.

Total trade hit $2.28 billion in 2010, 11 times the figure of a decade ago. The province's trade was 20.5 percent of the total between China and Poland last year.

The official said closer ties in manufacturing will be mutually beneficial to both sides.

Poland has well-developed heavy industry, while Guangdong is now focused on advanced manufacturing and high-tech based on its already robust sectors in IT and electronics, telecom equipment, household appliances, machinery and electrical equipment.

To date, 20 Polish-funded projects worth a total of $5.71 million have started in the province, while Guangdong businesses have invested in 14 projects in Poland worth about $77 million, according to official statistics.

Liang said the province will encourage local businesses to import more from Poland, establish production facilities and invest in energy development and infrastructure in the nation while boosting exports of competitive Guangdong products.

"We welcome Polish businesses to invest, especially in advanced equipment manufacturing, shipbuilding, auto, iron and steel production, tourism, environmental protection and energy conservation," he said.

(China Daily 10/24/2011 page11)