Out-Law / Your Daily Need-To-Know

UK construction set for boost from sports infrastructure opportunities in Taipei, says Government

06 Sep 2012, 12:24 pm

UK companies stand to gain new infrastructure contracts in Taiwan as a result of a new agreement signed between the Government and administrators in the Asian country, the Government has said.

Nick Baird, chief executive of Government body UK Trade & Investment, and Taipei City Government Mayor Hau Lung-bin signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MoU) which the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) said would "help UK companies to capitalise on business opportunities associated with future global sporting events", including the World Student Games (Universiade) in Taipei City in 2017. Contracts for the Games are expected to be worth £750 million in total, BIS said.

BIS said that the UK companies already have a "strong record" of winning contracts to deliver infrastructure projects in Taiwan. UK firms will now have an opportunity to win new work in the country on "infrastructure, event planning and management, security, low carbon technology and marketing," it said.

Under the agreement signed the UK will provide Taipei City with its expertise on hosting major sporting events based on the experiences gathered from London 2012, it added.

"The 2017 Universiade represents a major opportunity for UK firms to export their expertise. This collaboration with Taipei City will help the UK maximise the economic legacy of the 2012 Games, and support Taipei as it delivers a world class competition," Baird said in a statement.

BIS said that the signing of MoU, such as the one agreed between the UK and Taipei, enables UK Trade & Investment to "encourage and create opportunities for UK businesses by arranging visits, holding events and symposiums, facilitating partnerships and providing detailed market information."

Addressing the World Sport Summit in London, Hau said that Taipei would seek to draw on London's experience and relevant expertise in hosting the Olympic Games when Taipei comes to host the World Student Games, according to a statement by the Taipei City Government. Hau said new venues for the Games will be "built in accordance with green architecture standards," according to the statement.