Fast growing markets in focus for May Export Week

TRADE minister Lord Green, top economist Andrew Sentance and UKTI’s regional export champion Clive Drinkwater will be highlighting the opportunities of fast growing markets at a major event in Liverpool next month.

Readers of TheBusinessDesk.com can register here for the free-to-attend morning seminar on May 13 at the Hilton Hotel in the city, which will launch a series of regional events during Export Week.

Export markets in focus will include Indonesia, Vietnam, Columbia, Qatar and Africa.

With keynote speeches and panel discussions, the seminar will be followed by a Liverpool Vision presentation on the 2014 Festival For Business in Liverpool, with Sir Terry Leahy, Mayor Joe Anderson and Manchester city council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein.

Lord Green said: “High growth markets are changing the face of international business – these are the world’s growing economies, which offer tomorrow’s opportunities. With so many millions of potential new customers, low-cost communications, and improving infrastructure, the time to act is now.”

Urging North West businesses to attend, Clive Drinkwater, North West director at UK Trade & Investment, said UK companies must learn to prosper beyond traditional markets such as Western Europe and America.

“In 10 years’ time the world population will have grown by a further one billion people, almost all of that in emerging, high growth economies. With our current biggest markets experiencing the slowest growth rates, we desperately need to embrace the opportunities that exist in developing markets or risk being left behind.

“An ability to trade anywhere in the world will be a defining characteristic of the most successful business of the future, enabling them to reach many millions of potential new customers and we want to help companies achieve this objective. It is, therefore, very encouraging to see North West firms leading the way in tackling some of these growth markets but we need to do better still.

“Currently seven of the world’s top 10 fastest growing economies are in Africa. In 10 years’ time all of the top 10 fastest growing economies will be in Africa.  Across the world, countries are experiencing levels of growth unattainable in Western Europe and we need to make sure we are sharing in that growth.

“UKTI’s previous Export Week in the North West was a huge success with almost 800 companies attending 17 events across the region, and we also expect our High Growth Markets Week in May to generate a real profile for the benefits of trading with developing economies.”

As well as the launch event, a busy Export Week in the North West will include free events focusing on India, Eastern Europe, Central and Latin America.

UKTI’s Export Champions – North West businesses which have already succeeded in these markets – will be attending various events to share their knowledge and pass on advice.

Mr Drinkwater added: “Through our events we will be offering access to British Ambassadors and international trade experts from a wide range of countries, who will be able to give advice, answer questions and explain opportunities in their respective markets. Our team of locally based International Trade Advisers will also be on hand to work with businesses on a one to one basis. 

“I will also be visiting some of the best of the North West’s businesses who will be sharing the stories of their success in tackling new markets. Our competitive edge in technology coupled with world class creativity and innovation provide us with a great advantage and UKTI is here to offer a comprehensive programme of assistance to help firms make growth in trade a reality.”

More information on Export Week and the Export Insight Visits is available at www.exportweek.ukti.gov.uk