Bid to boost exports to Europe

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) is hoping to build on the region’s growing export figures by encouraging more businesses to look at overseas markets .

Earlier this month, the organisation reported that the number of export documents it was dealing with had soared this year.

In the past six months, the Chamber has processed 14 per cent more documents than it did in the corresponding period last year.

Much of this has involved companies exporting to the Far East and Middle East, but Jonathan Webber, head of the Chamber’s international team, was keen to stress that Europe remained a key market place for Midlands businesses.

“Birmingham’s largest export market is Europe, by some considerable distance – 85 per cent of all of our exports go there,” he said.

Now, the Chamber has launched an initiative to boost European export figures even further, and as part of this will be holding an event at Villa Park, ‘Export Today’, on 1 December.

The event will be aimed at firms keen to launch or expand the export side of their businesses.

The event will give businesses the opportunity to meet commercial officers from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

The commercial officers are based at British embassies overseas, and have an unparalleled knowledge of the local markets in countries including Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy and Switzerland.

Attendees will also be able to meet with international trade advisers, who will be able to explain about the support available for firms exporting to Europe.

For further information about the event, contact Jessica Taylor on 0121 607 1845 or email j.taylor@birmingham-chamber.com