Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

FOURTEEN of London’s fastest-growing creative companies joined the deputy mayor of London on an international trade mission to Shenzhen from Tuesday to yesterday, looking to secure extra investment and explore business opportunities.

The 14 companies, led by Rajesh Agrawal, deputy mayor of London for business, are visiting Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai from Sunday to tomorrow as part of the trade mission organized by the Mayor’s International Business Program.

The six-day visit aims to offer some of London’s high-performing creative companies a chance to connect with senior-level tech executives, pitch to international investors, and meet with potential clients and partners.

Companies in the delegation are mainly focused on areas like advertising technology, marketing, public relations, content production and artificial intelligence.

“The opportunities for collaboration are huge for London and Shenzhen in the areas of high tech, fintech and creative tech, as both cities share the values of innovation, entrepreneurship and bold ideas,” Agrawal said during a meeting with Wu Yihuan, vice mayor of Shenzhen, yesterday.

Agrawal said he and the delegation were particularly excited to introduce the creative tech industry, which he referred to as a combination of the creative industry and new technologies, to Shenzhen companies and investors.

According to Agrawal, one in six jobs in London is in the creative industry, and the gross value added of the creative industry is about 52 billion pounds (US$66.12 billion).

Meanwhile, London is also playing to its strengths, such as combining its traditionally competitive financial and creative industries with technology to nurture new economic growth.

“There are a lot of innovations happening in both the creative industry and the technological sector in Shenzhen, so the opportunities are immense for London and Shenzhen to work together,” Agrawal said.