THE economic relationship between Northern Ireland and China is set to become a lot more intimate in 2017.
Just as it has emerged that Chinese investment in the south rose to £2.5 billion in 2016 - from a paltry £8.6 million the previous year – the north is set to follow suit.
Over the last 12 months, the seeds have been sown.
In June, the Retlan Manufacturing Group, which owns Toomebridge-based SDC Trailers, was purchased by transportation equipment firm China International Marine Containers.
In its latest results, Retlan’s year-on-year turnover soared by 15 per cent to a record-breaking £197m.
Two months ago, Asian energy giant China Nuclear Power Group bought 14 wind farm projects across Ireland, with seven located in the north, from Dublin-based Gaelectric in a deal worth as estimated £300m.
Also in December, Crumlin healthcare diagnostics firm Randox Laboratories launched a major initiative to boost growth in China, following 18 months of market research and infrastructural developments.
In the same month, Portadown aircraft seat manufacturer Thomson Aero was acquired by the Aviation Corporation of China for an undisclosed sum. Just seven months prior to the deal, Thomson Aero reported a 25 per cent jump in turnover to £65m.
The firm is now actively recruited new workers for expansion.
Furthermore, since 2011, Northern Ireland’s manufacturing exports to China have increased by more than 60 per cent to close to £100m. In the third quarter of 2016, Chinese imports to the north jumped 7 per cent to £600m.
Food exports to the province have also increased in the past year to more than £100m – compared to just £60m less than a decade ago.
The Chinese Connection did not go unnoticed at Stormont either.
In October, Infrastructure minister Chris Hazzard visited the Asian powerhouse on a fact-finding mission. The visit was reciprocated a month later when high-ranking officials from China's state-owned wealth management fund took a trip to the north for the first time.
The group represented the China Investment Fund, which controls assets worldwide worth hundreds of billions of pounds.
It is understood the talks touched on the planned new transport hub at Belfast's Great Victoria Street, a project with a price tag of £160 million – not to mention the millions more in potential annual benefits to the economy.
The former first and deputy first ministers followed suit the following month, making a trade and political visit to China. The reports following the visit were exceedingly positive.
With the UK’s upcoming departure from Europe, trade outside of the single market and between non-member states are set to have added significance.
This opportunity was alluded to in months following June’s shock referendum vote by Mark Pinner, China director at global public affairs firm Interel at an event at Belfast City Hall.
"All in all, with the Brexit vote creating an uncertain European environment for local companies, Northern Ireland businesses should explore the possibilities of the so-called 'golden age' in UK-Chinese trade," he advised.
