Chinese businesswoman Stella Shiu behind £25m Wirral international trade centre plans
THIS is the glamorous Chinese businesswoman believed to be behind a £25m investment on the banks of the Mersey.
Stella Shiu is a high-ranking member of the Chinese government and is also chairman of the multi-billion dollar Sam Na Minerals company.
The Daily Post understands she is a key player in bringing plans for a multi-million pound international trade centre in Wirral to fruition.
Ms Shiu visited Merseyside in December and met with officials from Wirral Council and landowner Peel Holdings.
It emerged yesterday Peel has secured £25m of Chinese investment in the scheme for a 50% stake in one of four planned trade hubs. Wirral Council leader Jeff Green – one of the delegation who met with Ms Shiu last year – said the trade centre was of “European significance” and insisted it was “impossible to overstate its importance”.
The massive trade centre is expected to create “thousands and thousands” of jobs for Wirral and areas beyond and work on it could be started by the end of the year, he said.
Cllr Green last night welcomed news that Peel – the company behind the multi-billion pound Wirral Waters plans – is poised to submit a formal planning application for the International Trade Centre (ITC).
He said: “Peel asked for my support last year and I visited China with them to help bring this about. This shows how essential that was. I have said all along I want to make Wirral a business-friendly borough. I’m over the moon.”
During her visit to the Wirral Waters site, Ms Shiu praised Peel’s plans for the area, and said: “I will bring groups of Chinese people to see this. I know what Chinese people need from Western countries and Western countries would like to have more friendships with China.”
She said she was impressed with the area, having previously visited 15 years earlier. So significant a figure is she in China that Ms Shiu is guarded by Kalashnikov-bearing bodyguards.
The initial scheme is expected to be the first of several phases allowing international companies to display and sell their products, giving them a gateway into European markets.
Cllr Green said it had been a “relatively straight fight” between Wirral and Ellesmere Port to host the ITC.
He said: “This has the potential to create thousands and thousands of jobs in Wirral.”
The council had expected Peel to submit plans earlier this month, but this was delayed to allow the development company to take the proposals to China to allow investors to inspect the scheme.
Cllr Green said: “This is absolutely massive for the people of Wirral and for the entire area. It will be a site of European significance and it’s impossible to overstate how important this is, and the opportunities this provides.”
The ITC would be built in the West Float area of the Birkenhead-Wallasey docks complex, adjacent to the East Float site which has planning permission for Peel’s £4bn Wirral Waters scheme.
Cllr Green said the ITC will link with the Enterprise Zone for the docklands area, which will allow businesses to enjoy tax breaks for locating there and could also help accelerate time scales for development on Wirral Waters itself.
A planning application is expected by the end of May and building work could even start later this year.
Last night Robert Mee, chairman of the Ellesmere Port Development Board, said:
“Peel has assured us that the Ellesmere Port site will be considered if another Trade Centre opportunity arises in the future.
“We will work to ensure the maximum employment benefits for Ellesmere Port from the Birkenhead development.”
Stella Shiu is the Chinese businesswoman believed to be behind a £25m investment on the banks of the Mersey.
She is a high-ranking member of the Chinese government and is also chairman of the multi-billion dollar Sam Na Minerals company.
The Daily Post understands she is a key player in bringing plans for a multi-million pound international trade centre in Wirral to fruition.
Ms Shiu visited Merseyside in December and met with officials from Wirral Council and landowner Peel Holdings.
It emerged yesterday Peel has secured £25m of Chinese investment in the scheme for a 50% stake in one of four planned trade hubs. Wirral Council leader Jeff Green – one of the delegation who met with Ms Shiu last year – said the trade centre was of “European significance” and insisted it was “impossible to overstate its importance”.
The massive trade centre is expected to create “thousands and thousands” of jobs for Wirral and areas beyond and work on it could be started by the end of the year, he said.
Cllr Green last night welcomed news that Peel – the company behind the multi-billion pound Wirral Waters plans – is poised to submit a formal planning application for the International Trade Centre (ITC).
He said:
“Peel asked for my support last year and I visited China with them to help bring this about. This shows how essential that was. I have said all along I want to make Wirral a business-friendly borough. I’m over the moon.”
During her visit to the Wirral Waters site, Ms Shiu praised Peel’s plans for the area, and said:
“I will bring groups of Chinese people to see this. I know what Chinese people need from Western countries and Western countries would like to have more friendships with China.”
She said she was impressed with the area, having previously visited 15 years earlier. So significant a figure is she in China that Ms Shiu is guarded by Kalashnikov-bearing bodyguards.
The initial scheme is expected to be the first of several phases allowing international companies to display and sell their products, giving them a gateway into European markets.
Cllr Green said it had been a “relatively straight fight” between Wirral and Ellesmere Port to host the ITC.
He said: “This has the potential to create thousands and thousands of jobs in Wirral.”
The council had expected Peel to submit plans earlier this month, but this was delayed to allow the development company to take the proposals to China to allow investors to inspect the scheme.
Cllr Green said: “This is absolutely massive for the people of Wirral and for the entire area. It will be a site of European significance and it’s impossible to overstate how important this is, and the opportunities this provides.”
The ITC would be built in the West Float area of the Birkenhead-Wallasey docks complex, adjacent to the East Float site which has planning permission for Peel’s £4bn Wirral Waters scheme.
Cllr Green said the ITC will link with the Enterprise Zone for the docklands area, which will allow businesses to enjoy tax breaks for locating there and could also help accelerate time scales for development on Wirral Waters itself.
A planning application is expected by the end of May and building work could even start later this year.
Last night Robert Mee, chairman of the Ellesmere Port Development Board, said:
“Peel has assured us that the Ellesmere Port site will be considered if another Trade Centre opportunity arises in the future. We will work to ensure the maximum employment benefits for Ellesmere Port from the Birkenhead development.”
Liverpool Vision's Chief Executive Max Steinberg believes this Chinese investment will spark further interest. Read more here.
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