Marel Agencies has worked in China for over fifteen years and in that time we have seen enormous changes .

Shanghai, Hangzhou, Jiande and Zhejiang Province. While Marel can cover the whole of China its offices in Hangzhou and Jiande are at the heart of the huge and rapidly expanding "high-tech" development zone between Shanghai and Nanjing. In the UK, Marel is based in Leeds from where we can easily serve the whole of the UK.

"Gwanxi". This means "personal connections" or "status" in Chinese and Marel has the very best! In China "who you are" means much more than "what you are".

Marel has long-established, first class connections at all levels of industry, commerce and education and unique political contacts at the very top of local, city and provincial government. We can open doors which might otherwise remain firmly shut!

Buying from China. Marel sources suppliers and negotiates deals directly with Chinese manufacturers allowing any size of UK company to compete on a level playing field and be more profitable.We also help set up collaborative projects, joint ventures and can make introductions at all levels.

Selling to China. Marel finds distributors and sales agents for UK products within China. China is a huge potential market for UK goods, particulalrly high value, craft and specialist products and Marel is ideally placed to help.

Trade Missions.  UKTI, regional Small Business Services and Chambers of Commerce organise occasional trade missions to expositions and trade fairs etc. Going on one of these gives a good introduction to China but they can be costly and in order to suit the majority might be too "general" for those with a specific aim. 

Market and supply chain investigation; shared and/or escorted visits; specific projects. Cash is a constraint on all of us in business and has to be carefully targeted. Marel offers a range of services to suit your budget and your level of interest. We can organise a specific visit just for you and can handle all the arrangements from arranging a visa and booking flights and hotels through to making all the appointments and even organise sight-seeing(itinerary permitting!) - or - we can just spend a few hours working on your behalf.

Initial advice is free and we are interested in long-term relationships, not just one-off flat fees. We can take you all the way - from initial country familiarisation; establishing contacts; first visits; finding and meeting suppliers or customers; contacts with important organisations; advising on external support (grants etc - where available); placing or receiving orders; inspection and quality control; shipping; customs clearance etc.

China presents opportunities which must not be ignored. For the overall benefit of "UK PLC" all enterprises have an obligation to secure their future, operate efficiently and grow by minimising costs and maximising returns.