Hartmark, the Welsh fintech consultancy bridging cultural, legal and financial gaps between businesses in 160+ countries worldwide, has just launched a joint venture in Shanghai, making it one of the first Welsh SME's to open premises in China.
In line with its international growth strategy, the move marks Hartmark's first permanent establishment in Asia — reinforcing its commitment to the Asia-Pacific market and enhancing its service to clients involved in UK–China trade.
The firm already works closely with Chinese insurers like SINOSURE and PICC, and this move will allow Hartmark to liaise with these clients even more efficiently; and handle their cases onshore without solely relying on remote communication or partners.
Local team members, Sun Ling and Sun Yiguo, will help bridge cultural and language gaps — enhancing Hartmark's effectiveness in negotiations and relationships in Asia and helping organisations trade with confidence across borders through one single point of contact throughout the trade lifecycle.
Together, they and their UK counterparts combine over 120 years' experience, with Sun Ling an expert in management consulting, credit management and debt collection along with, Sun Yiguo, a former senior bankruptcy specialist at Shanghai, bringing over 35 years of legal practice.
Beyond existing clients, a Shanghai office opens the door to winning new business in the region, too — from both Chinese companies that require international recovery services and multinational firms in Asia that face cross-border credit issues. And with offices on two continents, Hartmark will practically cover all time zones between Europe and East Asia.
Patrick Harte, Director and Co-founder of Hartmark, said:
“Establishing a presence in Shanghai within two years of trading is an enormous milestone for us. It brings us closer to our clients in Asia and underscores our commitment to facilitating international trade by being local where it matters.
“The business will remain headquartered in Gwynedd, north Wales, where we continue to build a local workforce, partner with Welsh academia and add value to the Welsh fintech scene — all while simultaneously achieving global reach.
“Our carefully curated global network of 100+ vetted qualified professionals across every major trading region is undoubtedly a huge advantage and will allow us to add value to both Chinese firms and UK/European businesses in commercial intelligence, risk management and recovery solutions during a time when international trade has never been more complex.”
Hartmark successfully applied for support from Welsh Government's Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme to assist in the setup of the Shanghai venture — contributing to its wider mission of helping restore trust in international trade.
Rhys Griffiths, Relationship Manager at Fintech Wales, said:
“Hartmark's expansion into China is a strong example of how Welsh fintech companies can successfully export their expertise on a global stage. This move not only supports the company's continued growth, but also strengthens wider Wales–China trade connectivity.
“It's great to see a Welsh fintech leading the way in early AI adoption, advanced technology integration, and a strong commitment to international standards. By supporting the more efficient resolution of trade payments and disputes, Hartmark's work can help businesses on both sides trade with greater confidence and contribute to smoother cross-border activity.”
Hartmark is predicted to turn over £3 million over the next 3 years, with plans for further international expansion on the horizon.
