SOUTH Ayrshire held a networking event last week to form business ties with China.

A delegation from Liaocheng City in the country’s eastern Shandong Province met with business leaders in the area to discuss investment opportunities, while a separate agreement was signed by the council to explore the potential for new cultural connections.

Plans to regenerate the local economy are at the forefront of these meetings which encourage more growth in the export market. The focus is inward investment – promoting South Ayrshire’s natural and built assets, while making best of homegrown talent through expertise and education.

The event was held at the Fairfield Hotel in Ayr which hosted an audience of around 50 people. The Scotland-China Innovation and Technology Association said that Liaocheng and South Ayrshire have key similarities, with manufacturing an important area of mutual interest.

Attendees learned about the range of opportunities in the Liaocheng area through employment and investment. South Ayrshire Provost, Helen Moonie attended, saying: “During the visit we signed a new cultural agreement, marking the start of a process that will bring our two regions closer together as we learn more about our cultural differences and celebrate shared values.”