Coventry gaming industry lands £4m US boost

COVENTRY’S important gaming industry has been handed a £4m boost after firms took part in an international trade mission to San Francisco.

A trade mission was led by the international trade hub in Coventry and Warwickshire. The UKTI international trade team, based at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, took 48 businesses to the Games Developers Conference in the Californian city and the move is already paying dividends with 27 of the firms reporting new business.

The mission gave companies the chance to meet and network with a range of businesses – including Nintendo, Disney, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Sony and Oculus through to smaller companies.

Although the visit was led by the Coventry and Warwickshire team and included companies from across the West Midlands region, firms from around the UK also joined the delegation.

Read next: Jaguar Land Rover expansion will drive Motor City growth

Ajay Desai, Head of International Trade at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It was a great visit which took place in March and has already achieved outstanding results for the businesses involved.

“We always say that orders might not necessarily come through this quickly so to have generated £4m plus of sales for UK plc already is a great achievement.

“The success of this mission shows that companies that make full use of the support of the UKTI team at the International Trade Hub give themselves a great chance of achieving overseas success.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce – who also attended the mission, added: “It was a very worthwhile trip to a market that will become increasingly lucrative for this region.

“I had an excellent meeting with the chief executive of the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and it has really helped to strengthen our ties with such a major international business region.”