Crayfish.io

🎙️🎧 First episode in 2025: a 30-year reflection on UK-China relations from a UK businessman's perspective. Welcome to a conversation that spans continents and decades, a personal reflection that delves into the past, analyses the present and looks at the future of the UK-China relationship. In the first episode of our podcast in 2025, host Ting Zhang, Crayfish.io Founder & CEO, is joined by a remarkable guest, Alan Barrell, Chairman of Cambridge Worldwide Associates – an international company, consulting, researching and advising on business and education with a special interest in China-West connections and relationships. Their conversation explores Alan’s memories of and insights into the historical context and trajectory of UK-China relations over the past thirty years from the perspectives of a Cambridge-based educator, business executive, and promoter of cross-cultural exchange. You can listen here 👇 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gMGhXytv YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gS8Y_ayA In Alan’s words - ✨ "In some ways, China has become the innovation lab of the world. An enormous amount of work has been done in China to turn ideas into products, and many international companies are investing there. So, we should be aware that China has many abilities, capabilities, and possibilities." ✨ "I could immediately engage with these young people in their early 20s. And I could immediately attach to them in terms of understanding and emotional interest at a cultural level, as people. " ✨ "What touches their hearts is what touches my heart, and it is all about human values, pride, success, how you feel about other people, and honour… if we look at things that really matter in life and how relationships can be built between people, I feel very strongly in affinity with these Chinese people I met." ✨ "I’m hopeful that if we keep going and build on the things that we can do, and see where and when we can influence the government positively to think openly and creatively, then maybe step by step we can see things moving forward. It won’t be a dramatic move in any direction." Ting Zhang FRSA Alan Barrell Cambridge Worldwide Associates #China #UKChinaRelation #business #education #culture

It’s simple and short but will make a difference. Are you part of the UK SME community? If so, we would like to invite you to share your thoughts on doing business with China in 2025. The UK-China business landscape shows signs of re-energizing, highlighted by the recent Economic and Financial Dialogue (#EFD)—the first since 2019. We’re eager to hear from you as the bilateral relationship evolves and the global business landscape shifts to keep pace with the trends.  Here’s a short #survey designed to help us understand the current sentiment and challenges facing UK SMEs in the Chinese #market. This will allow us to continuously improve our services to meet your evolving business needs. Your opinion matters. Thank you in advance for taking part. Cambridge Wireless Ltd St John's Innovation Centre Ltd Cambridge Tech Week Cambridge Network Cambridge Angels #ChinaBusiness #businesssentiment #UK #China #trade #investment #growth #SME https://lnkd.in/e5Szh9mw

Cultural factors matter when doing business in China, or with Chinese companies. But how? In case you missed this episode of our podcast, Talking China Business, Crayfish.io Founder & CEO Ting Zhang FRSA and Director of Business Services Geyang Huang delve into the intricacies of doing business in China, demonstrating the need for a culturally nuanced approach to business communications in the Country. The discussion highlights essential Chinese #cultural concepts like hierarchy and Guanxi (connections and relationships) and some of the ways they influence business practices and relationships in China. They also offered some practical tips for negotiating with Chinese counterparts and business trips. Listen to the podcast on Spotify or YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eak8mN8y https://lnkd.in/eiQjxiSj #culture #business #communications #China

Exciting outcomes from the first UK-China EFD in six years. From the UK SME's perspective, we see this as a good time to ride the trend. The agreements are expected to add £600 million worth of value to the UK economy over the next five years, potentially delivering up to £1 billion. This could potentially translate into increased funding and investment opportunities for UK #SMEs. Digging a bit deeper into the fact sheets, we could see new opportunities in export, partnerships in R&D, and potential investment from Chinese sources, particularly in high-tech, sustainable, and service-oriented sectors. To be more specific: 👉 Improved market access for UK law firms, engineers, and accountancy qualifications in China, and potential expedited approval for the RSV vaccine for adults over sixty which could benefit UK pharmaceutical SMEs; 👉 ‘Made in China or Made in the UK’ may be less of an either-or question as new opportunities for joint R&D and cross-border collaboration in technical management and consultancy services emerge from the dialogue 👉 UK financial firms have been granted new licenses and quota allocations, which could benefit SMEs in the financial sector or those seeking investment; and the focus on green finance could create opportunities for UK SMEs in the environmental and sustainability sectors 👉 UK pork processing plants, pet food and greasy wool are on the ‘enter or expand in China’ list.  Plenty of positivity and opportunities ahead, for you and us. As a UK-based cross-border business service provider specialising in the Greater China Area, we are keen to ride the trend. What about you? If you are, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Follow us, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter, “China Business Digest”. Subscribe on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/efZNc2zw. #UKChina #trade #investment #SME #innovation #sustainability #collaboration #technology #export #China #UK #greentech #finance #buisness #service

Our eyes are peeled on a visit by Chancellor Reeves to Beijing this weekend. What's the big deal? This is the first UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in five years, potentially affecting UK businesses like ours in a major way, as it is expected to serve as a key signal of how the UK and China will work together under the Labour government elected in July 2024. More attention-grabbing is that the renewed bilateral dialogue comes at a time of growing geopolitical tension when the UK government is under pressure to balance economic and national security interests. As a cross-border business service provider, we at Crayfish.io see this dialogue as a crucial first step towards rebuilding trust and exploring new opportunities for UK companies to engage with the Chinese market under the new government. We're eager to see the outcomes and explore how we can leverage these positive developments to support our clients in their China endeavours. We are not alone. The renewed bilateral dialogue is beginning to rebuild confidence among the UK business community at home and overseas, offering hope for a more stable, collaborative future for UK-China relations. British Chamber of Commerce in China (BritCham China) points out that the dialogue is taking place at a time when ‘the UK is engaging with a different China—one where business has proven increasingly challenging for five consecutive years, yet investment has remained resilient in areas where mutual growth exists’. Late last year, it was clear that the UK is keen to cooperate with China on key areas, including green energy and finance, and to explore how the two countries can drive sustainable growth. Watch this space, or follow us for our take on the EFD and its potential impact on UK businesses. Or subscribe to our monthly newsletter, “China Business Digest” here 👉 https://lnkd.in/efZNc2zw Meanwhile, we’d be delighted to hear from you if your company is interested in exploring or scaling in the Chinese market. #UKChina #EconomicDialogue #GreenFinance #Trade #Investment #GlobalGrowth #UKBusiness #ChinaMarket #techonology #capitalmarket

Together with our clients, partners, and investors, we aspire to achieve more milestones in 2025. Wishing you all a prosperous new year! #newyear #investors #client #partners

YEAR IN REVIEW 🎄🛷The sound of jingle bells in the air and New Year’s Eve fireworks in our imaginative minds, as the end of 2024 gets closer, it’s time to pause and look back, reflecting.  Cambridge Wireless Ltd Cambridge Network Cambridge Tech Week Greater Manchester Chamber, UK St John's Innovation Centre Ltd Ukie Jitske de Vries dCS Audio Xaar

🚗🔋 Driving Innovation: Trends in China's EV Sector and UK Partnership Opportunities 🌍🤝 China is leading the charge in the EV sector, with significant advancements in battery technology, vehicle design, and autonomous driving capabilities. With strong policy support and a booming market, Chinese enterprises are gaining momentum in the global EV industry. What’s behind the trend is a combined force of policy support, technological advancement, innovations in batteries, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and other factors. Also emerging are some significant collaboration opportunities for the UK and China: battery technology, autonomous driving, and smart grids. So, why not drive towards a sustainable future together? !🌱🚀 Read it here for more details 👇 https://lnkd.in/ge6QKiMK #EV #Innovation #Sustainability #UKChinaCollaboration #GreenTech #ElectricVehicles #FutureOfMobility

Do you know what CPTPP stands for? Why does Crayfish.io care about UK joining CPTPP? What are the main implications of this membership for UK-China trade dynamics? We learned a lot at a seminar jointly organised by Department for Business and Trade and techUK on Dec 10, where Valeria Vigilante from DBT and James Markey 🇬🇧 🇫🇷, Gwen Edwards, Matthew Borthwick, Andie McKeown CMILT shared their views on FTAs, CPTPP, some invaluable insights, and practical tips on business realities for UK SMEs doing business with the CPTPP bloc countries. Cambridge Tech Week Cambridge Network Cambridge Wireless Ltd Cambridge Angels St John's Innovation Centre Ltd #CPTPP #AsiaPacific #trade #UK #SME #China #UKChina #FTA

✨ Bright sparkles when two worlds meet, the virtual and the physical, China and the UK. We had the privilege of attending an insightful forum on Nov 29,  UK-China Automotive and Energy Going Global Immersion Day, that explored strategies for scaling and accelerating businesses in the British and European markets. Our key takeaways from  the event co-organised by Cambridge Global Entrepreneurs Network (CGEN) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the Amazon London Office: ✔️ Adoption of Cutting-Edge Technologies: The importance of embracing technologies like generative #AI to drive growth in the #automotive and #energy sectors is highlighted, and how AI can address such challenges as data complexity, system integration, and real-world application constraints is discussed, its potential to unlock new opportunities showcased. ✔️ Cultural Perspectives: Understanding and navigating cultural nuances is crucial for successful international expansion, particularly the regulatory and cultural differences that inform how Chinese companies can better position themselves in the European market by respecting and adapting to local customs and practices. ✔️ Strategic Insights: Actionable strategies for entering and succeeding in international markets emerged from the forum. The panel discussions offered practical advice on navigating regulatory landscapes, leveraging AI for industry growth, and understanding the importance of cultural context in business dealings. ✔️ Commitment to #Innovation: The event showcased the commitment of both UK and Chinese companies to innovation and technological advancement, a shared vision for leveraging #technology to drive industry growth and enhance global competitiveness. A bonus for the attendees: Amazon UK Headquarters Tour guided by Xiaowei Zhu, Head of AWS International Business Development EMEA-GCR, who talked through Amazon AWS’s main global footprint and advancements in smart automotive technologies. Since earlier this year, Crayfish.io has been actively facilitating business and investment opportunities in the #ElectricVehicle space. If this is an area you are interested please do get in touch! We have written a few insights about this sector in the context of UK-China collaborations. Follow the links in the comment to read them 👇