China is linking with Somerset brewers to develop the first ever Chinese cider brand

As the Prime Minister visits China, Taunton Brewery becomes first to explore lucrative new friendship agreement which could bring local investment and jobs.

The Wellington-based Masters Brewery has already begun to take advantage of the agreement with a two-week tour which could now lead to the export of Taunton and Somerset beers to China.

China is also now linking with Somerset brewers to develop the first ever Chinese cider brand.

Somerset firm The Culture Exchange helped to broker the new agreement alongside the influential Heart of the South West Business Forum, and are now aiming to advise hundreds of other local firms on how to benefit from Chinese investment. Local firms are invited to an information morning at Bridgwater College on Thursday 12th December to discover how they could benefit.

The news comes on the back of the announcement about Chinese investors in EDF Energy's Hinckley point C project, which demonstrates a real attractiveness to the area by Chinese investors.

The Culture Exchange introduced managers from Masters Brewery to the leaders of 'Tsingtao' - China's biggest brewery. Chris Marrow, of the Heart of the South West Business Forum, said: "This is good news for Somerset and towns like Taunton can really benefit. Firms like Masters Brewery are already starting to see these opportunities. There will be many more to come."

The trade agreement with the booming Shandong region of China is focused on areas including food, farming, property portfolios, aviation, tourism, education, sport, culture and finance.

Mr Horne said: "These are exciting days for local businesses to take advantage of opportunities that this Chinese money will create, and it is worthwhile all local firms exploring how they can do business on the back of this."