International Trade International
West Midland’s tech scores big in India
Export straight
from your office Companies that want to learn how to approach new overseas business markets can do so from the comfort of their own meeting rooms, thanks to a new initiative launched by Department for International Trade (DIT) export experts. The free sessions have been introduced by the
DIT Midlands, following demand from busy businesses that do not have time to send staff on half-day seminars on the subject. Based on the DIT Midlands team’s already
successful business and cultural masterclasses, which it hosts across the region throughout the year, the sessions will enable businesses to focus on how to target specific markets – from France and the Netherlands to China and the Middle East. Christine Hamilton, interim regional director of
the Department for International Trade Midlands, said: “It doesn’t matter whether it is a first-time exporter looking to secure sales in Germany or an established overseas seller that wants to extend its reach to the Middle East, our experts will be able to provide the key information that will help them communicate in the best way.” The Department for International Trade’s Exporting Opportunities site has the latest details of goods and services that overseas businesses are looking for.
For more information, contact Gerti Willis, communication and culture adviser, on 0121 607 1942 or at
gerti.willis@mobile.trade.gov.uk
Digital exhibition
The ongoing digitisation of the world economy is the focus of the CeBIT exhibition in Hannover, Germany, next March. The event, on 20-24 March 2017 is being held
at the Hannover Congress Centrum. CeBIT will focus on the IT innovations that are revolutionising the business world, put the spotlight on today’s most promising start-ups, and will tackle everything from cloud technology and IT security to big data and the ‘Internet of Things’. The event will also feature the latest trends in
the world of digitisation and will include a series of talks by high-calibre speakers and forward- looking panel discussions, as well as showcasing product innovations from all over the world. More 400 start-ups have made use of CeBIT to link up with big multi-national corporations.
26 CHAMBERLINK December 2016/January 2017
World’s first: Ian Stokes (far right) with Indian partners Udit Sheth (second from right) and Harish Sheth from TransStadia, and StadiArena’s Paul Fletcher, at the Kabbabi event
Construction opportunities
Ten construction companies from the Midlands have visited Dubai as part of a Midlands Engine trip to fly the flag for British expertise and innovation. The delegation, organised by the Department for International Trade (DIT) in the Midlands, saw the businesses visit The Big 5 exhibition, the largest construction event in the Middle East, which featured more than 3,000 exhibitors from 142 countries. Ian Harrison, acting director, DIT in the Midlands, said: “The Midlands Engine mission to Dubai is a huge opportunity for businesses in the construction sector.
“Not only will they get to visit the exhibition
and have the scope for individual meetings, they will also get the chance to spend a day in Abu Dhabi and find out more about how they can get involved in the EXPO 2020. “The Midlands has world-leading capabilities
when it comes to innovation and quality. Being able to take these companies to showcase their work is a real boost and as our Exporting is GREAT campaign demonstrates, there are some amazing international opportunities out there. “Never before has it been so important to
expand internationally and the Department of International Trade has the expertise to help businesses of all sizes succeed.”
The world’s first purpose-built convertible arena that uses technology created in the West Midlands has opened in India. The Ahmedabad stadium in the Indian state of
Gujarat is the first to use StadiArena technology, which converts outdoor sports stadiums into indoor arenas at the touch of a button. The £60m stadium was built under a public
private partnership (PPP) model, and the inaugural event to be held there was the Kabbadi World Cup, which was broadcast to 125 countries around the globe. The cutting-edge technology used allows one
stand to be converted into 47,000 sq ft, 4,000 capacity, pillar-less, multi-purpose indoor arena that can host sports, concerts, exhibitions, conferences, trade shows and other events. Meriden-based StadiArena has been working with export experts from the Department for
International Trade team in Birmingham for six years. Its international trade adviser (ITA) has supported the company in a range of ways, from helping it to develop and implement an international sales and marketing plan, support its participation in DIT trade missions, introduce the company to local partners and to DIT teams overseas in the British Embassies Consulates and High Commissions. StadiArena also attended export
masterclasses and country seminars, and sought advice from UK Export Finance on financing international projects. Mark Sankey, head of the DIT’s Chamber-
based international trade team in Birmingham, said: “StadiArena exemplifies just what can be achieved with a cutting-edge technology. We’re delighted to have played a role in getting the company in front of the right people in India.”
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