Member Article

Building Russian relations – challenges and opportunities

The new NECC Access Programme is an initiative launched to help North East companies develop a market presence specifically in Russia, Brazil and India. Access Programme Manager Nynzi Maung examines the opportunities available in the expanding market of Russia and highlights how businesses across the region can get involved.

“As the Access Programme manager, it’s my role to provide practical support to North East companies wishing to fully exploit the trading opportunities in these three target markets. There are common misconceptions about these markets – that they are ‘too difficult’ is a phrase I often hear used, for example. True, they are not for making a quick buck, but they cannot be ignored.

“There are two distinct target groups we are trying to engage with via the Access Programme; those who are experienced exporters and up to now haven’t attempted to penetrate these markets, and those already trading but who are looking to expand their presence there to the next stage. Any North East company trading internationally, with a long-term strategy for continued growth and well-spread international customer base, will need to consider either one or all of these markets, for the benefit of their long-term future.

“Russia is a prime example of a country whose market is often disregarded as being too complex to penetrate or work with. There are many reasons for considering doing business with this country. Its sheer size and geographical proximity, coupled with its leading emerging economy status, present huge opportunities. Add to this the Russian Government’s economic modernisations and infrastructure agenda, the appetite of Russian companies and the country’s 140 million citizen’s growing demand for quality UK goods and services, suffice it is to say there is hugely untapped economic potential there and businesses would do well to consider getting involved.

“Roughly 90 percent of products imported into Russia require some form of certification and the reality is that a lack of knowledge in this area can provide a huge, but avoidable, barrier to trade – it is possible to do it and relatively painlessly.

“There are a wealth of opportunities available to North East businesses in Russia – people just need to know what help is available to them, which is what we are seeking to do via the Access Programme.

“In addition to workshops, we also organise group market visits and, as this is a project part-funded by ERDF, we are also offering a very practical service – Market Development Grants – which are aimed at supporting companies, to ‘buy-in’ that crucial additional exporting expertise when either entering the Russian market for the first time or wishing to expand existing market share.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Access Russia .