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Chinese and UK engineering companies agree skills exchange deal

Mott MacDonald first to take up the arrangement as consultant signs its own memorandum of understanding with China Rail Construction Company.

ICE and CHINCA sign deal

Leading engineering bodies from China and the UK have signed a deal which will see employees from Chinese and UK companies take part in a special exchange scheme, to develop new skills and insight into each country’s infrastructure development. The agreement came as Chancellor George Osborne launched HS2's civils procurement and encouraged Chinese firms to bid in partnership with UK firms.

The Employee Exchange Scheme agreement was signed by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) at a business event in China today, witnessed by UK Commercial Secretary to the Treasury  Lord O’Neill, and UK Chancellor George Osborne.

Earlier this week the Chancellor announced a raft of initiatives aimed to increase China/UK collaboration on infrastructure, including a £2billion government guarantee to underwrite Chinese investment in Hinkley power station, and a co-funded £50M cutting-edge nuclear research centre to be based in the UK.

“We hope the companies can achieve all-round collaboration in technology, management and commerce sectors based on this scheme, and develop the infrastructure investment and construction opportunities together in both countries and other third country markets.” -Wang He, CHINCA

Engineering, management and development consultant Mott MacDonald will be the first UK company to participate in the ICE-CHINCA Exchange Scheme, with an employee from the China Railway Construction Company  (CRCC) joining its Manchester office next month for a three month placement. It plans to place other Chinese employees into its UK offices and is exploring opportunities for Mott MacDonald staff to work in China. Mott MacDonald and CRCC also signed a separate MoU at the event, covering participation in the CHINCA-ICE exchange scheme and general cooperation on future working together.

“China’s interest in UK infrastructure reflects the strength of the UK market. China also has a huge infrastructure programme and high demand for engineering expertise, which UK engineers are keen to support. As such ICE and CHINCA have joined forces to develop a scheme that will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and skills between UK and Chinese companies, and help to pave the way for wider collaboration between the two countries,” said ICE director general Nick Baveystock.

“The economic and trade cooperation between China and Britain has being continuously enhanced over recent years, for which the cooperation in infrastructure and energy sector plays an important role,” said vice chairman of CHINCA  Wang He.  "CHINCA has established a series of productively cooperative mechanisms with relevant British institutions to promote mutual industry corporation. This Employee Exchange Scheme by CHINCA and ICE, is aiming to set up a platform for companies of both sides to make better mutual understanding.

“We hope the companies can achieve all-round collaboration in technology, management and commerce sectors based on this scheme, and develop the infrastructure investment and construction opportunities together in both countries and other third country markets.”

Keith Howells, Mott MacDonald group chairman said: “We are very pleased to be the hosts of the first exchange with CRRC. Continued collaboration with Chinese companies both in China and abroad is a key part of our strategy. The ICE-CHINCA scheme will build on our existing relationships, enabling further cooperation, and will provide wider benefits to both Mott MacDonald and our Chinese partners.”

Photo show Zhao Jianhua (CRCC); Kevin Dixon (Mott MacDonald), Peter Marland (Milton Keynes), George Osborne, Xu Hongcheng (Jinjiang), Wang He (CHINCA), Nick Baveystock (ICE)

 

 

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