VALUABLE links were built and potential investment in Essex was generated during a recent trade mission to China.

Representatives of nine Essex firms joined the trip to the Jiangsu province and Shanghai, organised by Essex County Council and Essex Development and Regeneration Agency (Exdra), which works to help companies trade abroad.

Inworth businessman Simon Jackson, of Barber Jackson, was part of the group and attended meetings to attract Chinese firms to invest in Essex.

Mr Jackson, who was part of last year’s trade mission, said: “We had some really high-quality meetings, which also aimed to find businesses who may want to manufacture goods for Essex companies.

Also on the trip was Tan Arulampalam, of Colchester Laparoscopic, a teacher training centre for minimally-invasive surgery.

He said the trade mission helped develop exchanges with medical centres in Shanghai, with a view to getting Chinese trainees to take part in the courses.