Firms specialising in goods and services ranging from energy and power to financial services, healthcare and education, will have the opportunity to visit destinations around the world, from France, Canada and Russia to India, China and Australia.
David Coppock, UK Trade & Investment's International Trade Director for the North East, said:
"We have chosen these six countries for market visits in the coming year because we believe they offer excellent potential for growth in trade with the UK and because there is a close match between the goods and services for which they have the greatest demand and the capabilities of North East companies to meet that need.
"Companies that opt to participate in our market visits will benefit from a wide range of services. Prior to the visit they will receive help with market research, and while overseas they will be accompanied by one of our experienced International Trade Advisers who knows the country well and understands the requirements and practices of its business community.
"The services offered by UK Trade & Investment are actively supported by staff at the relevant British Embassies and High Commissions, who help identify potential customers, host a special reception and offer networking opportunities.
"The North East exports more than £11 billion of goods and services every year and is the only UK region with a positive trade balance. This is a great record and companies that take part in UK Trade & Investment's market visits have an enhanced opportunity of playing their part in maintaining it."
Firms taking part in market visits will benefit from UK Trade & Investment support before, during and after the visit and may receive a financial contribution towards their costs.
Exporters can also benefit from a range of other services offered by UK Trade & Investment, such as the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS). OMIS is a flexible service that can be tailored to offer a range of support including market research, arranging appointments with business contacts and guiding companies through requirements such as technical standards, labelling and packaging regulations. Prices range from £225 to £1,800 including VAT, depending on the level of service required.
The programme of eight market visits offered for 2008-09 by UK Trade & Investment to North East companies is:
- China, May 26 - June 5. The visit will take in Beijing, Zhengzhou and Wuhan.
- Canada, September (dates to be confirmed). The visit will coincide with the World Wind Energy Exhibition and Conference in Toronto.
- Russia, September/October (dates to be confirmed). Moscow, with an option to visit St Petersburg.
- France, October 19 - 22. The visit to Paris will coincide with the SIAL food and drink show. There is an option to combine this with a visit to Lyon (below).
- France, October 22-24. The visit to Lyon will coincide with the 2nd Europe Innova conference featuring the Axelera chemicals cluster. There is an option to combine this with a visit to Paris (above).
- China and Taiwan, November 2 - 12. The visit will take in Chengdu and Changsha, with an optional extension to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- Australia, November 7 - 13. The visit will take in a high-tech industry park in Melbourne.
- India, February/March 2009 (dates to be confirmed). The visit will take in Mumbai and Delhi and will include an optional extension to the ICT sector in Bangalore.
China is the UK's 16th largest export market, with exports worth £4.7 billion in 2005. There is likely to be particularly strong demand for British expertise in financial services, energy, ICT (information and communications technology), healthcare, water, aerospace, automotive, construction and chemicals. The UK's biggest exports to China at present are electronic and mechanical equipment and components, ICT, precision instruments (medical, optical, photo and technical), chemicals and plastics, pharmaceuticals and metals and ores.
UK exports to Russia reached an all-time high of nearly £3 billion in 2005, and trade is expected to continue to increase significantly. However, the challenges of market entry should not be under-estimated. UK Trade & Investment has identified eight major sectors for UK companies in Russia - aerospace, airports, automotive, engineering, financial services, ICT, oil and gas and power. There are also opportunities in construction (project management), creative industries, sports and leisure (including the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014), transport, urban regeneration, water and waste water.
India is the UK's 18th largest export market, with £3.9 billion of goods and services sold in 2005. UK Trade & Investment has identified 16 broad sectors for UK companies - aerospace (civil), automotive, agribusiness, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, construction, creative and media, education, skills and leisure, engineering, environment, financial and legal services, healthcare and medical, ICT, oil and gas, power, transport and water.
Taiwan, which imported £912m of goods from the UK in 2006, can be a good stepping stone to the larger China market. The UK's main exports include machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, Scotch whisky and manufactured goods, and there are opportunities across a wide range of goods including aerospace, agriculture, clothing, footwear and fashion, construction, creative and media, education and skills, environment, financial and legal services, food and drink, giftware, healthcare, ICT, marine, power, rail and water.
Hong Kong took £4.1 billion of UK exports in 2006 and is also a trading gateway to mainland China. The top ten UK exports are power generating equipment, electrical machinery, telecommunications, office equipment, non-metallic minerals, plastics in primary forms, professional and scientific instruments, road vehicles, other transport equipment and textiles.
North East companies interested in taking part in UK Trade & Investment's 2008-09 market visits programme should contact the North East International Trade Hotline on 0845 0505054 or e-mail enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk.
