IRISH ARCHITECTURE firm Henry J Lyons and Partners officially opened its new Shanghai office yesterday, saying the facility marks a significant step in its efforts to expand in China and the broader region.
The global economic slowdown is likely to affect China, which means greater pressure to diversify in the Chinese market, said Michael Bradley, Henry J Lyons general manager in Shanghai.
“We’re conscious there will be a downturn in China and we will diversify to include outlying areas. For us areas like Chongqing and Chengdu are important, as well as Dongbei and Shenyang. We have presences all over through our partners,” said Mr Bradley.
Minister for Trade and Commerce John McGuinness officially opened the offices in Shanghai’s downtown.
“This shows the activity of Ireland in Asia. It shows we are prepared to travel, that companies are willing to come out and explore. The message is not to be afraid to come out here and do business,” said Mr McGuinness.
The Minister is part of a large trade delegation visiting China this week to drum up business in the vital China market.
Minister for Education and Science Batt O’Keeffe is deputising for Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who will join the delegation in Beijing later in the week.
Director of Henry J Lyons Conor MacCabe said the firm was in discussions with a number of partners about growing its business in Asia.
“We’re looking much wider than China and we’re talking to the Asian Development Bank about projects all over the region, as well as a major private bank,” said Mr MacCabe.
The office has a staff of 14 and is expanding to 20, with capacity for 35.
Henry J Lyons is working on four projects in China. One of these is a polo club in Beijing, close to the Great Wall. The project includes an indoor equestrian project with a stadium of 6,000sq m. It is due to be up and running by next year, and is hardly the kind of project that bespeaks fear of recession.
The company is building a hotel and beach club in Sanya on Hainan Island, China’s up-and-coming holiday destination and probably best known in Ireland as the place where Rosanna Davison won Miss World in 2003.
The other contracts are retail fit-outs for a European luxury brand and a pharmaceutical project in Zhuhai in southern China.
“Any growth sector is going to be in Asia. We’re [adding staff] in China using Shanghai as a base to exploit the opportunities out there,” said Mr Bradley.
Projects being examined include biomass projects in the Philippines, which will roll out in the new year, and possibilities in the earthquake-hit province of Sichuan.