APRS NEWS
September 1998
MORE HELP AT HAND IN LOOKING OVERSEAS FOR BUSINESS
Western Europe | Turkey | China | Japan | Australasia | More
A useful service with great potential for exporters was unveiled in August by the DTI.
The new facility, The Export Sales Leads Service, is free of charge and targeted at small and medium-sized firms. The way it works is that sales leads which come into British embassies will be e-mailed to companies listed on an Exporters Database so the important thing for any member company seeking such business is to be sure you are on the database - and on e-mail! We are obtaining details and will keep members informed.
Also announced is a low-cost advisory service for new-ish SME exporters interested in Western Europe: The Export Explorer scheme. You can benefit if you are a firmwhose turnover is less than about �27m, of which export accounts for less than 15%, and you have fewer than 200 employees. [Firms that have had DTI financial support in the last 5 years for an official trade mission, or for trade fair participation, are unfortunately not eligible.]
Explorer groups are heading separately - for Ireland, Finland, Sweden, and Benelux in November; more will follow next year.
Becoming a Market Explorer costs only �99, plus travel and accommodation at special rates. The DTIs Business in Europe Directorate will supply more info on 0171 215 8885, Fax 0171 215 8884.
If you see a niche in Turkey, you might like to be aware of Britain Means Business, a major British trade exhibition supported by the DTI, in Istanbul, 16-21 November. Details from the organisers on 01732 763344, Fax 01732 763606. If youre quick, you may also be able to sign up for a trade mission to Turkey on 26-30 October: contact Business Link Shropshire on 0345 543210.
Not all is doom and gloom in the Far East. For the long-term punt, China is the vast new market; check out the DTI's China Desk on 0171 215 4230 and note that at long last China has now agreed to recognise the carnet system for temporary export of demo equipment from the UK.
For the Japanese market, down but not out, the DTI has expert guidance available on its Action Japan desk. Here the DTI has a staff of 18, backed by 48 commercial staff in three Japanese cities. Hi-tech electronics products are the field of the DTI's Export Promoter Philip Thacker
To contact Philip Thacker -
Olympics 2000 opportunities may be unearthed if you join the Australia/New Zealand trade mission, which Northants Chamber of Commerce are co-ordinating [29 November to 11 December]. Details from 01604 671200.
Are you Lancs., Cheshire or Manchester based? And with fewer than 500 employees looking to expand markets overseas? Then get in touch with Manchester Business School on 0161 275 6560, who may be able to help you with export marketing, at no cost, thanks to finance flowing from the European Regional Development Fund.
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