Member Article

North West business urged to reach one more market for Export Week

As the region revs up for Export Week (10 – 14 November), Clive Drinkwater, Regional Director of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) North West is issuing a challenge to businesses to reach out to one more market.

He says, “If every current exporter achieves this, we could increase the GDP in the North West by an estimated £2 billion, significantly aiding economic recovery and giving a boost to our competitiveness as a region.”

UKTI will be hosting a range of free events aimed at helping companies make the most of their overseas potential.

In the North West, events will cover a wide area from Europe to America and from the Middle East to Asia, concentrating on opportunities and trade tactics in each of these markets, with advice on everything from freight forwarding to finance.

UKTI North West will also be announcing the new Export Champions for 2015, a group of successful international firms who are passionate enough about exporting to have committed to spreading the message around the region, offering their own expertise and assistance to the range of support offered by UKTI North West.

The new Export Champions will bring the total to 60 with representatives in every county and covering a wide range of sizes and sectors.

Clive Drinkwater said: “The Export Champions are companies who have already experienced the challenges and the benefits that exporting brings, and who have become stronger and more resilient as a result.

“I am thrilled that so many of them have agreed to join us, bringing the total of Export Champions in the region to an impressive 60. With so many companies taking part there will be a wealth of inspiration for new exporters.”

The UK needs to increase its exports to £1 trillion by 2020, and the government aims to get 100,000 more companies exporting by then.

Export week events next week include:

Finding a New Market – Gulf States – Cartmel Race Course, Cumbria, Monday 10 November

Women in International Business Forum - Burnley FC, East Lancashire, Tuesday 11 November

Finding a New Market – Emerging Europe – Burnley FC, East Lancashire, Tuesday 11 November

Finding a New Market – North America – Chester Racecourse, Cheshire, Wednesday 12 November

Women in International Business Forum - Chester Racecourse, Cheshire, Wednesday 12 November

Finding a New Market – Asia Pacific – Formby Hall, Southport, Merseyside, Thursday 13 November

Women in International Business Forum Formby Hall, Southport, Merseyside, Thursday 13 November

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .