Kieran O’Keeffe, Head of European Representation, British Chambers of Commerce

Ever thought you could do a better job than your elected representatives in Europe? 

Well on October 14 2010 you will get your chance when entrepreneurs from across Europe descend on the European Parliament to put business at the very top of the political agenda.

The 2010 European Parliament of Enterprises (EPE) brings together more than 750 business men and women from across the continent to debate and vote on hot business issues.

Taking the place of the European Parliament’s elected representatives in the hemicycle, company bosses will get to vote on the big public policy challenges that will shape business success over the next few years: access to finance, the economy, regulation, skills, energy and climate change. This is a unique opportunity to take your views to the very heart of European decision-making.

On the day entrepreneurs will be joined by Europe’s ‘big beasts’:  Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament; Hermann Van Rompuy, President of the European Council; and, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. The results from the afternoon’s voting will be presented to the Belgian Presidency of the EU and Europe’s media – the last EPE was covered in Europe’s press across all 27 member states, which is testament to the high profile nature of the event.

The British delegation will also have the unique opportunity to talk openly with the BBC’s European correspondent, Gavin Hewitt, and debate Britain’s priorities with the UK’s most senior official to the EU, Kim Darroch.

Once you have registered, all the British participants will be entered into a prize draw - and one lucky entrepreneur will have their travel and accommodation costs covered by British Chambers of Commerce.

For further details about the day, and for information on accommodation and registration, please visit the BCC’s website.

10am – 2pm, 7 September
HSBC Conference Room
1 Forest Green, Off Caxton Road,
Preston, PR2 9NZ

Chris Wren, British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia is hosting a free event to explain more about business opportunities in Indonesia. He will also explain more about the UKTI Northwest Market Visit to Jakarta on 28th November to 3rd December 2010.

Indonesia is the largest economy in South East Asia and the 3rd fastest growing economy in Asia, just behind China and India. Trade relations between the UK and Indonesia are healthy, with UK exports to Indonesia totalling almost £391million.

Opportunities for trade should be viewed as medium to long term. UKTI has 4 target sectors: environment, ports, engineering and power sector.

Opportunities also exist across a broad range of other sectors, including oil and gas, financial services, ICT, retail, healthcare, agribusiness and infrastructure. The is a round table meeting followed by one to one meetings (by pre arrangement only).

The event takes place between 10am – 2pm on 7th September at HSBC Conference Room, 1 Forest Green, Off Caxton Road, Preston, PR2 9NZ

For further information on this event or to reserve a free place email events@uktinorthwest.co.uk

19th – 24th September

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Northwest are organising a market visit to ‘Taste of Britain 2010’ in Canada. With the support of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), UKTI are inviting northwest food and drink businesses to join this mission.

A Taste of Britain is a unique mini trade show where a select number of UK exhibitors are given the opportunity to meet with Canada’s leading importers, retailers and distributors. This show offers the potential for UK companies to grow their business through international trade.

Canada is one of the world’s richest and most developed countries and it provides excellent opportunities for UK food & drink businesses.

Itinerary

Sunday
19/09/2010
Arrive Toronto (Evening)

Monday
20/09/2010
Market briefing followed by store visit

Tuesday
21/09/2010
Mini trade fair (10am-4pm)

Wednesday
22/09/2010
Early Flight to Vancouver followed by store visits

Thursday
23/09/2010
Mini trade fair (10am-4pm)

Friday
24/09/2010
Fly home from Vancouver

For further information about this mission please contact Jackie Nolan on 0161 875 2335 or alternatively please email events@uktinorthwest.co.uk

Cost

The programme package will cost £500 and includes:

• Canada Sector report covering an overview of the market, competitors and route to market. This will be available in advance of the mission.
• Market briefing by a key importer to understand the market.
• Store Visits
• Ongoing support of an experienced UKTI International Trade Adviser.

It is the responsibility of the individual company to cover their travel and accommodation costs. UKTI will advise suitable arrangements.

Support for Northwest Businesses

Northwest based SMEs who meet the eligibility criteria for European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) may qualify for financial support under the region’s international ERDF Global Access Programme

Looking to trade with USA, Poland, Russia, Turkey, France, Asia, Scandanavia or Central and Eastern Europe?

Do you need help in finding reliable partners and suppliers in the above regions?

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is working with a number of consultants experienced in various markets in order to provide local companies with the best possible advice during an initial consultation.

The objective is to help companies gain a successful entry into certain key markets.

Our partners have established offices and long-lasting successful experience of business development  services in each market.

Participating companies will be given the opportunity to have a 45 minutes individual consultation with market experts.

• Poland, Tuesday 14 September 2010
• Central and Eastern Europe, TBC September
• Russia, Tuesday 12 October 2010
• Scandinavia, Tuesday 26 of October 2010
• Turkey, Tuesday 9 November 2010
• France, Tuesday 8 February 2011
• Asia, Tuesday 8 March 2011

Participating companies will be given the opportunity to have a 45 minutes individual consultation with market experts.

If you are interested in attending any of the above events please email to elena.enciso@liverpoolchamber.org.uk

9.30 – 16.00 23rd September 2010
The Atrium, Daresbury Laboratory,
Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus,
Daresbury, Cheshire WA4 4AD

Specialist ICT Commercial Officers from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Taiwan will be visiting the North West region in September.

This is an excellent opportunity to find out about the prospects for your business in one or more of these countries.

Opening with presentations on each of the countries by the Commercial Officers, delegates will then have the opportunity to hold 20-minute, one-to-one meetings with the Commercial Officers listed below:

• Australia - Jim Thompson
• China (Chongqing) – Aggy Chen
• Hong Kong– Patrick Li
• India – Sunish Jauhari
• Japan – Etsuo Watanabe
• Korea – Sunjin Lee
• Malaysia – James Chan
• New Zealand - Paul Tuckley
• Singapore – Elsie Yim
• Taiwan – Julia Chang

To book a place email: events@uktinorthwest.co.uk

For further details please telephone: 0845 603 7053

NWDA ERDF Food & Drink Sector Mission to:

Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival, Stockholm, Sweden

29 September – 1 October 2010

UKTI, NWDA and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are inviting Northwest businesses to join a food & drink sector mission to the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival.

UK companies can meet key importers, scope the market, visit the industry’s key exhibition and meet Systembolaget , the State run monopoly for alcohol over 3.5%. There will also be the opportunity to showcase products at the VIP event at the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival.

Northwest based SMEs who meet the eligibility criteria for European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) may qualify for financial support under the region’s international ERDF Global Access Programme.

For more information please contact Jackie on 0161 875 2335 or email events@uktinorthwest.co.uk

Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel 22nd September 2010, 10.00 – 17:00

UK Trade & Investment are working  in conjunction with the Chemical Industries Association to bring you this FREE Chemical Sector event with the Chemical Trade Officers from the British Embassies & Consulates overseas.

The event will be of interest to fine, speciality, performance chemicals companies as well as other niche downstream manufacturers and relevant service providers.

The day will consist of one-to-one appointments (approx 20 minutes each) to give delegates a flavour of the opportunities for your products/services in these markets.

The appointments will be pre-arranged according to your priority markets and your company will be asked to fill out a briefing sheet on your products/services plus any relevant questions to send in  advance to the Officers.  UKTI International Trade Advisers will be present to guide you on how to take any recommendations or actions further.

Trade Officers from the following countries will attend:

• Austria 
• Belgium 
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• China
• Czech Republic
• Egypt
• Estonia 
• Germany
• Russia
• Hungary
• India 
• Jordan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Nordics
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Serbia   
• South Korea
• Switzerland 
• Syria
• UAE

Networking areas are available to use between appointments.

Refreshments and a light buffet lunch will be provided.

To register your interest in this event please  email Rachel Simmonds:  events@uktinorthwest.co.uk

For further details please telephone Tricia Francis on 07966 560644

9 July, Friday - Hilton Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4LQ

UKTI is offering your company a unique opportunity to access a breadth of diplomatic and business expertise on 10 markets in Asia by registering for Manchester’s ‘Doing Business in Asia’ event at a special rate of £50.00 plus VAT, when registering with uktiatf10 promotional code.

Why should you attend?

Sign up for four market clinics to hear ‘on-the-ground’ briefings from UK business people and British Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Senior Representatives experienced in 10 Asian markets, including:

• Peter Beckingham, British Deputy High Commissioner, Mumbai 
•  Mark Kent, British Ambassador to Vietnam 
•  Peter Budd, Director, Arup 
•  John Fenton, Director, HMG Paints 
•  Aldyan Djanin, Head of RBS Global Transaction Services, South East Asia 
•  Michael Edelman, CEO, Nanoco Technologies

Click here for the full list of experts

 Drop-in clinics covering: 

• How to manage risk and cash flow when trading with Asia delivered by RBS
• Common Legal Issues when Doing Business in Asia delivered by DLA Piper
• How UKTI can help your business succeed in Asia

With over 100 local business delegates already signed up, this is a perfect opportunity to network and develop contacts with fellow delegates, business speakers and experts from Asia.

How to book

To benefit from this special rate please use the promotional code uktiatf10 when booking your place at www.businessinasia.co.uk

Tuesday, 22nd June 2010, 9.30 am - 12 noon
Warren Bruce Court,Warren Bruce Road, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1LB

 UK Trade & Investment Northwest in association with Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) are inviting Northwest companies to attend this free event to gain an insight into the business opportunities in China for 2010.

Finnair offers a Business Class return ticket to Asia at Euro 600 for two companies that will be drawn as raffle during the seminar on the day.

The event will provide specialist information on the following topics:

• Exploring Opportunities in the Pearl River Delta (Southern China, Hong Kong & Macao)
• Shanghai World Expo 2010 and North West Market visit to China (12th - 20th October)
• Doing business with China 

The experts sharing their knowledge and advice with us are:
 

• Philomena Chen, Head of Asia Pacific Development, UK Trade & Investment North West  
• Bob Manning, Head of Trade & Investment, British Consulate-General in Guangzhou 
• John Woodruffe, Deputy Head of Trade and Investment, British Consulate in Hong Kong 
• Steven Spalding, UKTI - China Market Team 
• Phil Southward, Director of Operations, Liverpool Pavilion at World Expo 2010 
• Daniel Margo, Export Director of Martin Yaffe International  - Case Study: “Partnering with China to Internationalise your Business” 
• Jessica Zhang, China-Britain Business Council  Manager, North West

Places for this free event are very limited, so please book your place now. For more information please contact Paul Yuan  on 0161 875 2329 at paul.yuan@uktinorthwest.co.uk

22 April 2010

We would be delighted if you could join us for an international debate by leading experts in their field.

Key note speakers and topics of discussion:

Mark Berrisford-Smith - Chief International Economist, HSBC
Developments in the UK and global economies, and the performance
of regions and key industry sectors

Jessica Zhang - China-Britain Business Council, North West Manager
Business culture and etiquette

John McCaffery - Senior Tax Manager, Grant Thornton
Advising on cross border trading, debt cap rules, dividend rules and controlled foreign companies

Laurence Pritchard, Commercial Partner, DWF
Advising  how to get your goods to market, obtaining overseas protection
for your brand and products and complying with local laws and regulations
in the places where you are looking to do business.

Venue
HSBC Bank Plc
Liverpool Commercial Centre
1 Castle St
Liverpool
L2 4SW

If you would like to attend this free event, please call T 0151 227 1234 or email elena.enciso@liverpoolchamber.org.uk