EVEN China, that emerging economic superpower could benefit from some of Yorkshire's most respected creative thinkers.

As the nation of 1.3 billion people gears up to stage the landmark 2008 Olympic Games its attention has also turned to the transformation of its creative industries like film and media.

The Yorkshire-based Creative Industries Development Agency (CIDA), which works across North Yorkshire, was quick to offer its expertise and it has now been invited to address the first creative business conference in Beijing in July.

CIDA, a not-for-profit company, will also be working to pave the way for the thousands of creative individuals and businesses in Yorkshire such as designers, artists and musicians to tap into the huge new markets that are opening up.

Anamaria Wills, chief executive of CIDA, said: "We are taking some of the first crucial steps towards some very exciting opportunities, not only for China, but also for the Yorkshire region.

"We have the chance to help China's fast-developing creative sector and also to open the way for Yorkshire's burgeoning creative businesses and individuals to benefit from these huge new markets.

"Things are at a very early stage and there is a lot of work to do but we are hopeful that the many individuals and organisations we work with across North Yorkshire will eventually reap major benefits from this link."

CIDA, which has attracted more than £6.5 million of funding into Yorkshire's creative industries since it was formed just five years ago, is working closely with a number of other organisations on the China link.

Discussions are already under way involving regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward, which has an office in Beijing, to boost export links between Yorkshire and China's creative sectors including music, performing arts, publishing, design and interactive media.

The Government's export body, UK Trade International, is also involved in the talks and meetings are being planned with specific 'target' organisations in China's capital city.

A ground-breaking company set up by CIDA to develop creative entrepreneurs in Colombia, as part of the Colombian Government's drive for economic regeneration, will be the main focus of a talk by Anamaria who is former head of marketing and outreach at the National Theatre and her fellow CIDA director Lee Corner to the international conference in China.

Updated: 10:31 Friday, April 01, 2005