WIREDGOV

Welsh businesses set to get more help to sell overseas as UKTI's ‘exports roadshow’ rolls into Wales.

Businesses in Wales seeking to explore global exporting opportunities will be able to capitalise on the advice of international business owners and entrepreneurs when the Exporting is GREAT Export Hub motors into town next week (15-26 February).

The 32 tonne, 40ft long lorry will play host to a series of seminars, drop-in sessions and one-to-one meetings with export experts working in markets across the globe during its two-week tour of Wales.

The Export Hub tour of Wales is a joint initiative between the UK Government and Welsh Government and forms part of the UK wide Exporting is GREAT campaign. The campaign aims to get 100,000 additional companies exporting by 2020.

Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb said:

In an ever-growing global market, the potential for Welsh businesses to reach out to new customers and lucrative new territories beyond the UK has never been greater.

The Exporting is GREAT campaign provides first-time Welsh exporters with the support they need to capitalise on overseas markets and seize the growth opportunities they can bring.

Our mission is to become a great exporting nation, boosting business confidence and national pride and empowering more of our home grown companies to show the world just what Wales has to offer.

Kicking off its tour in Pembroke Dock on Monday 15 February, the truck will then visit another eight locations across south, mid and north Wales.

UK Export Finance - the national export credit agency - will be standing by to provide support to Welsh companies of all sizes, helping them realise export opportunities through guidance from its specialist export finance adviser and through insurance and bank guarantees to support export contracts.

Companies wishing to attend the drop-in sessions or book 1-2-1 sessions are asked to register their interest at the Business Wales website where further information is available on the venues.

Notes to Editors

• On the Export Hub businesses will be able to use interactive screens to access information on the Exporting is GREAT web site which lists and updates more than 1000 export opportunities posted by overseas companies, organisations and governments that are specifically looking for UK suppliers and manufacturers. It presents real-time export opportunities that businesses can apply for online.

• Examples of current listings range from a Chinese company looking for British frozen meat products to a beer importer from Brazil looking for new brands; from a Singaporean company looking for expertise in monitoring and evaluation for autonomous vehicle trials to a Turkish Consultant Company seeking a partner for a tender announced for a Sub-Sea Tunnel Project in Istanbul.

• Businesses will be able to get advice from Business Wales, the Welsh Government, and UK Export Finance, the UK’s Export Credit Agency.

Export Hub timetable and location:

15 February, Bridge Innovation Centre, Pembroke Dock – (9am- 2pm launch event);

16 February, Liberty Stadium, Swansea (10am- 2pm, Skype with market expert in Czech Republic);

17 February, The Works, Ebbw Vale (10am – 2pm, Seminar on Export Payment Options);

18 February, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff (10am – 2pm, market expert from China);

19 February, Industrial Automation & Control Ltd (IAC) Delta House, Meadows Road, Queensway Meadows, Newport, NP19 4SS, (10am-12.30pm, export opportunities in India);

22 February, Parc Menai, Bangor (10am – 2pm, market expert from Canada);

23 February, The OpTIC Centre, St Asaph (10am- 2pm, Skype with market expert from Germany);

24 February, Cefn Lea, Dolfor, Newtown, SY16 4AJ (10am- 2pm, market expert from China)

25 February, Calbee UK, First Avenue, Newtech Sq, Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside, CH5 2AW (10am- 2pm, market expert from India);

26 February, Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium, Wrexham (9am- 4pm Export Opportunities in the Gulf). It will have a specific focus on doing businesses in the Gulf with representatives present from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The Hub will not be present at this event.