KENT businesses are being offered guidance on how to tap into the fast-growing Chinese economy.

China is fast catching the United States as the world's largest economy and HSBC bank will advise firms how they can take advantage of the country's $1.2trillion economy and its market of 1.3billion people.

Companies are invited to a half-day seminar - Doing Business With China - on May 18, at the Hilton Hotel, Maidstone.

The event will start at 8.30am and finish at 12.30pm and focus on the practicalities faced by companies trading in the region. A buffet lunch will be included.

Daniel Sale, HSBC’s China specialist, will bring participants up-to-date on China’s economy and outline its economic outlook.

Other HSBC specialists will present on financing trade and managing exchange risk. There will also be a first-hand account from a Kent business that has successfully overcome the challenges of breaking into this market.

Ian Legg, HSBC's Kent area director, said: "Our research shows that there is an enormous appetite amongst firms in the region to find out more about this vast and growing economy.

"While international trade can bring significant opportunities, there are also many pitfalls - from currencies and terms of trade to different risks and cultural differences.

"The key to good international business is in-depth local knowledge, both in terms of understanding the indigenous business climate and also the business culture. We hope to give local firms a working knowledge of how to negotiate the issues involved."

To book a place, contact Glenna Dubois at HSBC on 01622 706246 by May 4, 2005, or email glennadubois@hsbc.com.