INTERNATIONAL TRADE
HELPING COMPANIES EXPLOIT OVERSEAS TRADE OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT: Mark Sankey T: 0121 450 4205
Mission offers mega
opportunities for export Potentially lucrative export opportunities are up for grabs with an ‘Emerging Europe Mega Mission’ behind part of the former Iron Curtain in March. Following the success of Mega Mission 2015 to Emerging Europe, UK Trade & Investment is organising the Technology is GREAT: Mega Mission 2016, a trade delegation of British companies to Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Welcoming the trade visit, Mark Sankey, head
of the UKTI team at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “The economies of Central Europe showed solid growth in 2015, which presents manufacturing and technology companies with many export opportunities. Taking part in a UKTI-supported trade mission is an excellent way to explore these vibrant markets and make the right business connections.” The Mega Mission will be led by UKTI’s recently
appointed Business Ambassador Paul Kahn. The delegation runs from March 7 to 10 and the participation fee is £168 plus VAT per person. Meanwhile, a UKTI Masterclass focusing on
business culture in Scandinavia and Northern Europe is being held at the Hillscourt Conference Centre, Rednal, on 10 March. For information, call language & culture adviser Gerti Willis on 0121 607 1942 or email
gerti.willis@mobile.ukti.gov.uk
Delegates at the Iran Export event, held at Hilton Garden Inn, Birmingham BY FRED BROMWICH T
A taste of events from Exporting is GREAT
On average, companies earn £100,000 in additional sales within 18 months of working with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). So if you think UKTI could help your business win overseas sales, then why not take advantage of a forthcoming Exporting is GREAT Week? Several events aimed at businesses to either
start their export journey or increase their international trade are being held in the Midlands during 18-22 April. Exporters seeking to reserve a place are asked to log onto
www.exportweek.ukti.gov.uk Events in the Midlands will include:
• 18 April – Doing Business in Dubai and the Middle East (Black Country). Join this event, hosted in partnership with the Middle East Association, to hear from sector specialists who will detail live opportunities, business culture, routes to market and business risk. • 20 April – Access India (Staffordshire). Find out more about the scale and nature of business opportunities in India. • 20 April – Global Opportunities Summit (Coventry). Join a major conference for new to export companies and boost your export strategy.
22 CHAMBERLINK FEBRUARY 2016
he lifting of most financial and economic sanctions on 16 January is a significant step forward in enabling Midlands-based
exporters to trade with Iran – but it’s no guaranteed “pot of gold” as companies are
warned that major challenges still lie ahead. Numerous countries, including China and
Japan, have already signed investment deals, and Peugeot-Citroen has announced a joint- venture to manufacture 200,000 cars in Iran, but before joining the business “stampede” to enter the re-opened marketplace, UK companies should first seek government advice, consult a lawyer – and talk to their bank manager. “British design, engineering and
innovation are much sought after and companies also involved in the oil, gas, mining, transport, medical, tourism, IT and banking sectors have the potential to negotiate lucrative new contracts,” said Mark Sankey (pictured), head of the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) team at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. “But it has to be appreciated that Iran will not be an easy place to do business.” For instance, there is still a risk of bribery and
corruption – and other issues such as possible bureaucratic delays, lack of investment in infrastructure and inflation and price controls which reduce the potential for private sector growth. “Admittedly, there are some key challenges
which face exporters, but there is no doubt that the lifting of sanctions will enable UK businesses to take advantage of the commercial opportunities that will now arise,” added Mark, who headed a Birmingham Chamber trade mission to Tehran in 2004 –two years before the UN imposed restrictions following Iran’s refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
‘The lifting of sanctions will enable UK businesses to take advantage of the commercial opportunities’
In fact, 90 delegates, keen to know more about
the world’s “last great emerging market and energy superpower,” attended an Iran Export event, organised by UKTI and the British-Iranian Chamber of Commerce (BICC), where speakers included Martin Johnson, BICC director-general; Nigel Kushner, chief executive officer at W Legal; Claire Harrison, head of Business Awareness Unit, Export Control Organisation and Paul Callin, senior export finance adviser, UK Export Finance. “Coming so soon after the
sanctions were lifted, the event illustrated in no uncertain fashion the tremendous appetite that now exists for the re-opened Iranian
market,” said Mark. Restrictions still exist, however, in
some areas, particularly the sale, transfer
or export of all military goods and technology, while some other sectors, such as nuclear- related items, will require a licence. Specialist advice is also available from UKTI,
which now has a presence in the British Embassy in Tehran as further help to support trade between the two countries. Because ongoing US sanctions are still in
force, any UK companies exporting to America who want to break into the Iranian market, are particularly advised to seek expert guidance.
• Energy superpower Iran has the world’s second largest gas reserves and the fourth largest oil reserves. Over the coming months it plans to export 500,000 barrels of oil a day – 300,000 of which will go to the European market.
Exporters look to Iran as a key market
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