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 Ajay Desai and Tony Kerr at the launch of the trade missions. MINORITY ethnic-owned businesses from the West Midlands will be seeking to drum up new export orders, in a bid to beat the effects of the recession, by furthering trade links with firms in the Caribbean, West Africa and the Indian sub-continent.
They will be amongst companies taking part in three trade missions being organised over the next seven months by government agency UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum, supported by the European Union and funding through the European Regional Development Fund.
“These visits could be a real life saver for firms in the region, particularly for minority ethnic businesses,” said Tony Kerr, Chief Executive of Black Business in Birmingham (3b), which hosted a briefing session for potential exporters at its headquarters in Handsworth. “Our historical and cultural ties mean that it’s far easier for companies with the expertise and skills to break into new markets in these areas than other parts of the world.“ There are a wide range of fantastic business opportunities in these countries, particularly in the Caribbean. Such trade missions offer the chance to gain a foothold in these expanding markets, which have long-standing links with the UK and the West Midlands.”
The programme involves a 12-day visit to Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados in May, a week-long visit to Ghana and Nigeria in June and a further week-long trip to Bangladesh in October. During the visits, delegates will be introduced to a range of business owners running similar sized business in the country, meet trade officials and establish contacts in support services such as banking and the legal profession.
Ajay Desai, leader of the diversity project for international trade in the West Midlands, said: “Things are difficult for businesses at home right now but in various parts of the world there are fantastic business opportunities. In the Caribbean in particular, as well as the other two locations, there are a wide range of opportunities, for instance, in the tourism industry, in IT, in professional services like the legal profession as well as massive opportunities to provide training,” he said.
Mr Desai said: “Previous missions have enjoyed a lot of success but companies going out there must realise there is no guarantee of that. What I would urge is that they do their homework in advance, make preparations for the visit – and make as many contacts, and conduct as many meetings as possible, while out there.”
Missions….2
Joint leaders for the trade mission to the Caribbean are Brian Mountford, from Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Athelston ‘Tony’ Sealey, a successful business franchise operator who is a UKTI Trade Ambassador for the Caribbean. Tony Sealey is also chairman of 3b and a Board member of the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum.
• Because of secured ERDF funding, companies incurring costs of £2,000 or more on attending a trade mission will be eligible to claim back £1,000.
For further information relating to the trade missions, please contact Ajay Desai on 07889 8076 or e-mail:
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For further information about the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum please contact Adrian Kibbler, telephone 07831 690940 or visit www.minorityfourbusinss.co.uk
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