Coventry manufacturer enjoys growth after Chinese trade mission
A COVENTRY manufacturer is enjoying growth in China after taking part in a trade mission to the Far East.
Induction Technology Group (ITG) develops air filter technology for road and race vehicles from its Siskin Drive base in the city, where it employs 23 staff.
Cllr Kevin Maton from Coventry City Council and the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and Peter Burns, the president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, paid a visit to the company and heard how support from UKTI through the chamber’s International Trade Hub had helped the firm develop its international markets.
ITG’s general manager Richard Clews said the help offered by international trade adviser Brian Mountford had improved the way the firm goes about its overseas business.
He said: “We were already in France and America, but Brian helped to get us funding to be able to go out to those markets and that made a big difference. We were working with dealers there but the fact that I made the trip to those countries and had the support of UKTI helped to focus their efforts and, therefore, grow sales.
“I made the most of a visit to China too and flew to Beijing where I met a dealer and that was important. We are seeing strong growth and there is the potential for even further expansion.
“Working with Brian and UKTI has been extremely helpful. Having the backing of a government body when working overseas definitely opens doors but, also, it’s been useful in developing contacts regionally.”
He said the trade body had also suggested other people and organisations to work with.
Peter Burns said: “It was great to meet a manufacturer based in the region that is now trading in three continents.
“It’s absolutely vital that businesses make the most of the support that is available because the more exporters we have in Coventry and Warwickshire, the better it will be for the region’s economy as a whole.
“It was also good to hear that the support through UKTI and other organisations in the area has proved to be beneficial to ITG and that they would recommend those services to other companies.”
Cllr Maton, Coventry City Council cabinet member for Business, Enterprise and Employment and CWLEP board director, added: “It’s invaluable to be able to come out and meet businesses to find out where support is working, especially when it is a joined-up way.
“International trade is certainly something we must continue to promote but this was also a great chance to chat to the business about other matters and where we can all work as one to try to solve them.”
