Trans-Atlantic business links strengthened with US delegation
Future Trans-Atlantic trading opportunities were reinforced after Liverpool Chamber hosted a two-day visit from a delegation of senior United States trade and investment officials.
The chamber revealed that the US Embassy, Department for Commerce and Select USA were represented by Brenda VanHorn, Commercial Counsellor and Gus Franklyn-Bute, Senior Investment Advisor.
Throughout the visit the chamber set up links with a range of the Liverpool City Region’s businesses keen to develop exporting and inward investment opportunities.
A series of site visits, briefings and meetings with businesses and partner organisations and stakeholders, were held.
Among the businesses visited by the delegation were Clarke Energy, Yanco, Liverpool Film Office and Sciontec in the Knowledge Quarter.
There were also briefing meeting with representatives of Peel Ports, Liverpool Freeport and a collection of organisations who are currently exporting to the US.
The chamber also hosted a roundtable event attended by businesses based in the city region, where delegates shared practical information and intelligence around issues such as barriers to growth and trade, regional differences between individual states, city tax compliance, hiring talent and understanding how to access programmes and incentives.
Freeport director, John Lucy, said: “We now have established channels for any future trade enquiries from Liverpool businesses about the US market and, most importantly, the Liverpool City Region is now on the radar with US Embassy trade commissioners and we will be involved in future US trade missions held at the US Embassy, in Liverpool or, indeed, they can arrange visits directly to the USA for our regional businesses.”
Giles Warburton, managing director at Shortlist Recruitment, said: “The ability to get to meet key US embassy personnel and understand the level of direct assistance open to us was a game changer.”
Christopher Jones, vice president of Alphasonics, said: “Alphasonics found the USA Expansion Event to be a great roundtable discussion exploring opportunities in North America.
From left: Gus Franklyn-Bute, Adam Wray-Summerson (Clarke Energy), Elena Enciso (Liverpool Chamber), Brenda VanHorn
“Whilst we have already embarked on our own expansion effort, we found resources previously unknown to us that we will certainly explore and made some great contacts. It was also a great opportunity to share our own experiences in this area, with the hope that we could give some ideas to help with the expansion plans of other companies from our great city.”
Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber, said: “Demonstrating Liverpool’s proposition as both a destination for inward investment and as a global supplier of goods and services is a responsibility and privilege for local chambers.
“Liverpool has the capacity, capability and opportunity to be at the epicentre for UK trade and investment with our largest trading partner and there is no doubt this visit reinforced those credentials.”
