UK targets $1.9tn China tech market with new trade mission
Tech West England Advocates (TWEA), the not-for-profit tech community for West England, is proud to announce its 2026 international programme. Headlined by the fourth UK Tech Mission to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, the announcement was made during celebrations for the Year of the Fire Horse and highlights a landmark year for regional diplomacy and economic growth.
Taking place from 23–27 November 2026, the mission holds particular significance as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Bristol and Guangzhou and 20 years of the Birmingham–Guangzhou partnership. To honour this milestone, the 2026 mission will focus on deepening the long-standing trade corridor between West England and Southern China’s Greater Bay Area, fostering a new era of innovation and bilateral growth.
Strategic Timing and Market Access
For the first time, the delegation will include Guangzhou alongside Shenzhen, known as the Silicon Valley of China, and Hong Kong, the region’s premier global financial hub. The Greater Bay Area (GBA) offers an unparalleled ecosystem:
- Population: 86+ million people
- Economy: GDP exceeding US$1.9tn
- Innovation: One of the world’s most advanced manufacturing and tech hubs
UK Market Discovery Tour: London Tech Week
In a significant expansion of its activities, TWEA will also host the UK Market Discovery Tour in June 2026. Led by Angela Tang, this initiative will bring a delegation of Chinese tech companies to the UK to coincide with London Tech Week.
The tour is designed to showcase the strength of the British tech landscape, featuring curated ecosystem visits to:
- London: Engaging with global investors and the UK’s primary tech hub
- Bristol: Exploring the West of England’s world-class aerospace, silicon, and green-tech clusters
- Birmingham: Connecting with the Midlands’ rapidly growing digital and manufacturing sectors
New Partnership: University of the West of England (UWE Bristol)
TWEA is delighted to confirm that the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) has joined as a key partner for the mission. Further key partners from across the UK and Global tech network will be announced shortly.
The mission is supported by a robust network of collaboration partners, including:
- Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
- The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
- The British Chamber of Commerce South China
- Institute of Directors (IoD)
Richard Lowe, founder of Tech West England Advocates and mission organiser, said: “2026 is a landmark year. Celebrating 25 years of the Bristol-Guangzhou link while welcoming UWE Bristol as a partner allows us to scale our impact significantly. The programme builds on the momentum of recent high-level discussions between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping. With bilateral trade exceeding £100bn annually and new visa-free access opening windows for UK founders, the timing for expansion has never been more optimal. This mission provides senior-level access, meaningful introductions, and real commercial opportunity.
By running bilateral missions from taking UK founders to China in November to bringing Chinese innovators to London, Bristol, and Birmingham in June, we are truly cementing a two-way bridge for global tech growth.”
Russ Shaw, CBE, founder of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates “International collaboration drives a thriving tech sector, and Southern China’s Greater Bay Area is one of the world’s most dynamic innovation hubs. Having seen the scale and ambition of the region first-hand, I understand how inspiring this kind of exposure can be for UK tech founders.
Global Tech Advocates was founded to create closer ties between tech hubs all over the world, and to ensure geography isn’t a barrier to growth. By connecting the UK’s regional tech clusters with Southern China, Tech West England Advocates is helping foster an exchange of ideas, capital, and talent. These founder-to-founder connections are exactly what the UK needs to stay at the forefront of global tech.”