Nottingham City Council is actively striving to spread the success of a Nottingham company which is bucking the current economic trend by winning orders and expanding its business in China.

Lace Market-based global online marketing company Metafocus is bringing the latest in multilingual internet marketing techniques to Chinese businesses who are now seeking to expand their exports into Europe using the power of the web.

Metafocus was one of 16 businesses from the East Midlands which attended a recent market visit to Shangai and Ningbo - the location of the University of Nottingham's new campus in China - to promote the best of Nottingham to Chinese businesses. They represented our strongest sectors and some of our best hopes for building wealth and jobs in Nottingham.

The City Council is seeking to build on the success of this visit, organised by the East Midlands China Business Bureau, by:

• Providing ongoing support to all Nottingham companies who attended the market visit
• Making our China office available to Nottingham companies to help them develop their relationships and bid for contracts
• Working with the East Midlands China Business Bureau to organise more market visits, such as the Nottingham Forest tour in May 2009
• Organising up to three inward visits from China a month
• Working to establish 'China House' concept in Nottingham to host Chinese businesses
• Organising sector-themed events in Nottingham for Chinese businesses, such as a sustainable construction event in March 2009.

Deputy Leader Councillor Graham Chapman, who recently visited Metafocus to see how the City Council could continue their support, said:

"I am delighted that Nottingham companies are now beginning to win orders because of the unique and now well established relationship we have built with Ningbo, and wider Zheijiang province of China.

"We will be doing a lot more in the year ahead, including a market visit in association with the Nottingham Forest summer tour of China. It is a very exciting time for Nottingham and its links with China."

The interest in and demand for Metafocus's multilingual Internet marketing services was considerable and Alan Clements, Managing Director, presented an Export Online Marketing workshop for a specially invited business audience. Alan has been visiting China for almost 30 years, and has been able to see the immense business opportunity for UK companies.

Alan said:

"China is growing at a remarkable rate and represents a huge market opportunity for modern business services, especially International marketing, translation and design. Entering the market can be difficult because of language and cultural differences but is made much easier on the back of Nottingham's well-established relationship with China.

"Both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham City Council are making it so much easier for local businesses to break into the lucrative Chinese market, especially by having a Nottingham Business Development Office located on the Ningbo University campus."

The City Council is also working to attract and retain companies like Metafocus by supporting the introduction of greatly enhanced broadband facilities into the Lace Market area and other centres for knowledge-based businesses.

Councillor Chapman said:

"Introduction of super fast internet for businesses will greatly increase our competitive position in the new economy. I am determined that Nottingham continues to offer the best business environment and attract and retain its most skilful people."