The Department of International Trade (DIT) has today launched a new programme of “premier” trade missions for businesses across the Northern Powerhouse.
Where traditional missions include trips to conferences and exhibitions, the ‘premier’ missions will see delegates visit multiple locations in one or more markets, with sector specific connections and insights from leaders and experts, the DIT said.
The missions begin on October 26, when the first cohort of 10-20 selected delegates will visit Thailand and Indonesia, focussing on the education, infrastructure and transport sectors.
Further missions will see delegates visit Mumbai and Pune, India, in November, focussing on the advanced manufacturing, engineering, tech and digital sectors and Columbia and Peru, focussing on infrastructure, rail and automotive and construction.
The final mission, focusing on life sciences, will be held in Washington and Atlanta, US, in March 2020, with a focus on life science.
Paul Stowers, head of the north west region at the DIT, said: “I’m really excited to be launching this new offering which follows an incredibly successful Northern Powerhouse missions programme last year.
“The idea behind the premier missions is to provide a greater depth of insight for participating businesses, and to raise the profile of the delegation.
“Exporting is key to the north’s economic success and with almost 70 international trade advisors in the region, the DIT stands ready to help businesses leap into new markets wherever possible”.
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Manchester Airport has partnered with the DIT for the first mission to Thailand and Indonesia.
Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “Manchester Airport is proud to play a pivotal role in supporting the international ambitions of businesses in all parts of the North.
“Access to the world’s most important global markets is key helping businesses flourish, which in turn helps create a balanced an outward facing 海角视频 economy.
“We look forward to welcoming those taking part in this exciting missions through Manchester Airport in the months ahead.”
The launch of the new programme follows the DIT’s 2018 programme, in which the department delivered 22 Northern Powerhouse missions.
Between April 2016 and March 2019, 1,119 companies have participated in 59 trade missions to 14 countries.
The DIT said it had helped 海角视频 business export goods and services worth £99bn over the same period.
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The DIT also said £59.6bn worth of goods has been exported from the Northern Powerhouse in the 2018-19 financial year, up 2.4 per cent from the 2017-18 financial year.
Over 19,000 Northern Powerhouse businesses exported goods had in the first quarter of 2019, the DIT added.