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8 . Glasgow Business October 2016


ALL THINGS INTERNATIONAL Bright business outlook


Shearer Candles light route to success while Qatar opportunities beckon INTERNATIONAL TRADE PARTNER


Photo courtesy of Lisa Donnelly W


hile we are making excellent progress on international


trade agreements with Manhatan Chamber and the British Chamber of Commerce in Milan as evidenced elsewhere in this magazine, we continue to provide events and services which support businesses wishing to achieve global growth.


BEHIND THE SCENES INTERNATIONAL


Working with our International Trade Partner, Clydesdale Bank, we held the third in our series of Behind Te Scenes International (BTSI) events with Shearer Candles at their factory premises in Govan at the end of August. Our BTSI events are an opportunity to share the challenges and successes of trading globally. Founded in 1897 on the


outskirts of Glasgow, Shearer Candles is the UK’s longest established lifestyle candle company. Troughout its long history, the business has always been family run and while much has changed, its artisanal approach, atention to detail and craſtsmanship first pioneered in 1897 still underpins everything the company does. Taking an average of six months from drawing board to first flame, Shearer don’t rush things! Shearer Candles produce


millions of candles a year as each of the two production lines in the factory has the capability to make six tonnes of candles every 24


Behind The Scenes International: Shearer


Candles’ two production lines have the capability to make six tonnes of candles every 24 hours


hours, which are then shipped to major British supermarkets and department stores and also to retailers and distributors around Europe, America and Japan. Delegates heard a short


presentation from Ian and Rosey Barnet, Managing Director and Creative Director respectively. Tis was followed by a tour of the factory to see all the stages of production from moulding through to distribution. Te evening ended with major retail therapy in Te Candle Store!


CONNECTING WITH QATAR


Over the last two years Glasgow Chamber has been working closely with the British Chambers of Commerce Global Business Network Forum to ensure that if you have ambitions to open up in new markets and territories we can put you in touch with more than 40 accredited business organisations across the world that can offer you support and guidance. Building on these global


chamber connections, we were delighted to meet up recently with Helen Matheson, Chief Commercial Officer at the British Chamber of Commerce in Qatar. Helen, originally from Argyll, was


back in Scotland to meet clients and to visit family. She told us that it could not be a beter time to begin exporting and to open up new business with Qatar. Not only is the economy booming there but the prospects for British firms are excellent with recent trade figures showing UK trade with Qatar up 44 per cent on last year. With Qatar’s economy


booming at over six per cent growth and local investment increasing steadily (Qatar expects to spend $220 billion in the next five years) the market for UK goods and services could not be


more atractive. Te 2022 World Cup is just one of the major projects in Qatar’s ambitions to develop a modern and sophisticated economy. A brand new Metro system, new rail projects, a new deepwater port and Phase 2 of the airport development are all in the pipeline. It is not just in infrastructure that business is booming. Retail opportunities abound, the food and drink industry is growing fast and new businesses are succeeding in diverse sectors. Helen stressed that Te British


Chamber in Qatar is particularly well placed to help businesses access these opportunities. Glasgow Chamber is planning to run a business clinic with Qatar Chamber early in 2017 to highlight key opportunities and to share advice about how to approach this exciting market.


To contact the Chamber in Qatar or to enquire about the opportunities there, please contact Helen Matheson on +974 4016 4071 (helen@bccq.qa) or visit their website: www.bccq.qa


For further information on any of our international trade activities, please contact Elaine Rodger on 0141 204 8332 or email elaine.rodger@ glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


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