NW aims to share Olympic boom

NORTH West businesses will be given the chance to share in the economic benefits the London Olympics will bring this summer.

With a global audience of four billion, 120 heads of State visiting and half a million extra visitors, the London 2012 Olympics will ensure the international spotlight is firmly on this country.

During the Olympics, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London will be transformed into a hub to  host a programme of conferences, events and networking opportunities for British and international businesses.

UKTI North West is keen to make sure regional businesses don’t miss out and is hosting a series of events at MediaCityUK.

Key sessions from the British Business Embassy will be streamed live, and there will also be local keynote speakers and sessions tailored to regional needs and priorities.   Each event focuses on a different sector and provides specialist briefings and local opportunities for networking.

Events in the North West include:

•    26 July 2012 – Trade and Investment Event on the UAE

•    27 July 2012 – Trade and Investment Event on China

•    30 July 2012 – Trade and Investment Event on Brazil

•    2 August 2012 – International Opportunities in Life Sciences

•    8 August 2012 – International Opportunities in Infrastructure  
 
Clive Drinkwater, director for UKTI North West says,  “One of the key aims of UKTI is to help firms emulate the success of Australian companies, which, following the Sydney Olympics, were successful in winning business across the world supplying other major international sports events.

“There are a wealth of business opportunities arising from other forthcoming global sports projects, such as FIFA World CUP 2014 in Brazil, Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia, Olympic Games 2016 in Brazil, World CUP 2018 in Russia and FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

“The decision to hold a number of Olympic football matches at Old Trafford, one of the most iconic stadiums in the world will also provide a superb magnet to attract visitors from a number of strategically important countries to visit the region and UKTI North West will work with partners to ensure that this opportunity is exploited for the benefit of local companies.

“During the Games themselves, UKTI North West will work with partners to produce events designed to draw on the Olympic spirit of the games but also provide tangible and direct value for business participants.”