July 12, 2016

1. Consul General paid an official visit to Huzhou (located in Zhejiang Province) on 12th July to explore opportunities of deepening mutual cooperation between Indian Consulate and Huzhou Municipal People’s Government. Consul General was received by Mr. Chen Weijun, Mayor of Huzhou at the Municipal Hall along with Vice Mayor of Huzhou and other senior officials.

2. During the meeting, Consul General invited Mayor of Huzhou to lead a high level business delegation to India early next year to look at investment opportunities in India under the Make in India campaign. Mayor of Huzhou accepted the invitation and stated that given India’s positive economic situation, several companies from Huzhou were interested in setting up manufacturing units in India. Both sides also agreed to hold an India Culture Week and an India-Huzhou Business Seminar towards end of the year to showcase Indian culture and promote B2B exchanges between Indian and Huzhou enterprises.

3. It may be noted that Huzhou is an important tourism and culture hub in Eastern China. One of China’s largest manufacturers of steel products, JIULI is already supplying steel components to leading Indian players, which include L&T, ONGC, OIC and Reliance Industries Ltd. JIULI is also exploring possibility of setting up a manufacturing unit in India in near future. Separately another Chinese company which utilizes the Indian black tea (alongwith milk) to sell its products in China under the brand name of Xiang Piao Piao was also keen to establish its footprint in the Indian market.

4. During the visit to Huzhou, Consul General visited both JIULI and Xiang Piao Piao and assured them of Consulate’s fullest support in their investment plans for India. It is expected that both these companies will make a follow up visit to India towards the second half of the year.

5. It may also be mentioned that Anji (county level city located in Huzhou) is an important base for bamboo and tea production in Eastern China. Tata Tea one of the India’s leading tea brands have a manufacturing unit operating since 2010 based out of Anji. Consul General also visited the Tata Tea unit in Huzhou as well as the Anji Bamboo Museum. It was using the Bamboo from of Anji, (that in 2010), the Indian pavilion construction at the Shanghai World Expo was carried out.

6. It is expected that with the follow up visit of Huzhou leadership to India and the holding of the India Culture Week and Business Seminar later this year, further deepening of all round relations will take place with Huzhou, which would be a key focus partner for the Indian Consulate in the Eastern China this year.

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Huzhou (Zhejiang)

12 July 2016