Businesses across the Highlands and Islands are being encouraged to celebrate the Year of the Dragon by getting advice on exporting to China.

Organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), a free event is being held at Cowan House in Inverness on February 16.

The event will launch a new report commissioned by UK Trade & Investment and the CBBC to help companies target Chinese markets.

The report, entitled "Opportunities for UK Businesses in China's Regional Cities" has identified 35 regional cities and the opportunities they present for UK companies.

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The regional cities identified in the study account for 17 per cent of China's population and 39 per cent of China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Attendees will also have the opportunity of free export training advice and one to one sessions with experts from the CBBC and Scottish Development International (SDI), organised through the Smart Exporter programme.

In 2010, the Chinese economy was valued at $5.8 trillion, the second-largest economy in the world after the USA.

Laura Robertson, development manager at HIE, said: "The world is looking to the Chinese economy and companies across the Highlands and Islands are no different. The opportunities to tap into such a huge market should not be underestimated, but businesses still need to know what to expect and how it should be approached.

"This free workshop aims to dispel the myths of tapping into the Chinese economy and give Highlands and Islands businesses the best possible chance of export success."

The half-day event will take place at Cowan House, Inverness on Thursday February 16 and includes a networking lunch. After lunch companies can meet on a one to one basis with experts in a series of pre-booked business clinics.

(GK)