Member Article

North West firms encouraged to look to Ireland

UKTI is looking for 100 firms to visit Dublin in March for an export “taster” trip.

Ireland is seen to be a lucrative market for exports as the UKTI say Irish residents spend an average of £3,558 on British goods every year.

It is currently the North West’s fifth largest export market, as £1.2bn exports moved across the Irish see 2011/12.

Clive Drinkwater, UKTI’s Regional Director in the North West, said: “We’re working hard to increase the number of firms that export products from the North West, and I’d like to see at least 1,000 new companies start exporting during 2013.

“The trip to Dublin in March will be a great introduction to what exporting is all about, and Ireland is a good country to choose as your first export market due to its close proximity and links to the UK.

“Just under half of our exports still go to EU countries so they’re a sensible choice for new exporters as the cost of flights and transportation is relatively inexpensive. Once you’ve successfully exported to one country, it also makes it much easier to start targeting others.

“The opportunities are there for companies to start exporting and I hope the trip to Ireland in March will give many of them the incentive they need to give it a go.”

The Export Insight Visit to Dublin will take place on 5 and 6 March, and the deadline to register is Thursday 31 January. More details are available at www.ukti.gov.uk/northwest or by calling 0161 875 2274.

The two-day trip will include return flights from Manchester Airport, overnight accommodation, and a programme of networking and training events. New and novice exporters will be able to take part in the visit for a nominal charge of £99 plus VAT.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .