London becomes regional headquarters for Pop Mart: economic benefits from Starmer's visit to China

In a move reflecting the success of recent economic efforts,  Pop  Mart, the manufacturer of the  famous "Labubu" doll, has announced that the British capital London has been selected as a regional headquarters for its operations in Europe.  The decision comes as one of the most prominent outcomes of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's recent visit to China with the aim of boosting trade cooperation between the two countries.

Highlights of expansion and investment:

Strengthening local presence: The company plans to open  7 new stores in the UK, including the cities of London (Oxford Street), Birmingham and Cardiff.

Job creation: This investment is expected to create more than 150 new jobs in the UK market.

European ambition: Expansion is not stopping in Britain, but the company plans to open 20 additional stores across the continent from its new hub.

Context of the visit and economic results:

The deal is part of a broader package of gains from Starmer's visit, which aims to inject growth into the British economy by improving market access and reducing customs restrictions, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

·      £2.2 billion worth of export deals.

·      Market access facilities estimated at  £2.3 billion over 5 years.

·      Direct investments of hundreds of millions of pounds.

Grant Wang, CEO of Pop Mart, said London was chosen because  it was the "heart of the global creative ecosystem", making it the ideal base for the company to take root in Europe.