“This was a fantastic event, the combined experience and level of detail shared by the speakers helped me prioritise which Middle Eastern markets our business needs to enter.” Ben Ritherdon, Managing Director of Ritherdon & Co
That’s the message from one of Lancashire’s leading manufactures and echoed throughout the county’s thriving manufacturing community following the International Business Expo Doing Business in the Middle East on the 6th September.
Flying in from the Middle East fresh with the latest business opportunities to help Lancashire’s businesses maximise their potential in their chosen markets was a truly international line up of international speakers. Handpicked for their in-depth market knowledge and connections, the market specialists included the former Cultural Attaché at the Syrian Embassy in London, the Iraq Britain Business Council, the Links Group (Qatar and the UAE), AEI Saudi, Aeon Gulf ( Kuwait) and the Arab British Chamber of Commerce. Delegates were offered compliance support from Intertek and assistance in securing finance through UK Export Finance as well as hearing from Vision Support Services who successfully export to the region. The School of Language and Global Studies at the University of Central Lancashire treated everyone to local food and clothing and explained Arabic customs.
There was a highly charged buzz in the conference room and in the exhibition rooms during the networking sessions as the speakers confirmed that trade between the UK and Arab countries has tripled over the last 20 years. With a vast array of projects worth over £115 billion catering for the power, construction, transportation, hospitality, tourism , educational, aviation, technology and healthcare sectors, not forgetting of course opportunities for all sectors in the run up and during the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Hosted and organised by the International Business Department of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Emirates, Forbes Solicitors, Progrex it Solutions and The Cardboard Box Company these twice-yearly International Business Expos are now firmly established as must attend events by Lancashire’s manufacturers wishing to expand existing markets or successfully enter ones.
Stef Heywood, International Business Manager at East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said: Growing businesses internationally is a real focal point of the Chamber and being able to bring this wealth of knowledgeable and experienced speakers to Accrington, on your doorstep, is what the Chamber is here for. It’s fantastic to see so many businesses looking at the opportunities that the Middle East can offer.
