Member Article

More businesses seek export meetings with Chamber International

A record number of meetings with businesses wanting to export have been attended by specialist advisers at Chamber International in the last 12 months.

A total of 493 meetings were attended by Chamber International export advisers up to April 2015, a ten per cent rise on the year before.

Most of the requests came from small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across Yorkshire, although other meetings were held with companies throughout the UK.

Businesses in sectors including food and drink, agricultural products, healthcare items, aerosol manufacturers, and paint manufacturers were among those seeking guidance on issues including access to export finance, making overseas contacts, the Government’s International Business Network, involving chambers of commerce overseas; and the Enterprise Europe Network.

Chamber International senior associate, David Attia, says: “This significant increase in the demand for face-to-face advice is indicative of the growing interest in exporting which we hope will translate to rebalancing the region’s economy.

“Enquiries came from businesses ranging from sole entrepreneurs with a bright idea, new companies which have received overseas sales enquiries through their website and need advice on how to close the deal and deliver the product to established exporters wishing to break into new markets.

“It is very heartening that the call for more exporting from the Government and efforts being made by many agencies including, in Yorkshire, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, is being rewarded by a groundswell of interest from business people.”

Chamber International assists chambers of commerce with a wide range of specialist international trade services and is also supporting Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) by delivering its We Are International export campaign, which aims to being an extra £1.6bn to ten local authority areas and create thousands of new jobs in the next five years.

Ends

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Clarke .