Partner Article

A gateway to asia for the regions businesses

FIRMS in the region are being giving the chance to become part of a £3bn market thanks to an event next month.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has teamed up with the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand, the North East Chamber of Commerce, HSBC and the Thai Culture Forum UK to host the “Thailand Market Clinics” event.

The event will offer advice and assistance to both new and experienced exporters to Thailand through one-to-one consultations with experts from each of the organisations.

Geoff Charlesworth, one of UKTI’s International Trade Advisers who will be among the panel of experts at the event, said: “Despite continued political uncertainty, fundamental business drivers remain in place within Thailand.

“Two-way trade between the UK and Thailand has topped £3 billion for the last two years and Thailand is well-placed as a gateway to both the ASEAN and Asia-Pacific markets.”

The event will cover topics including general business opportunities and key sectors for exporters; export documentation, VAT, payment and credit issues.

Information about opportunities in the sport and educational opportunities in particular, will also be covered.

He added: “Additional funding has allowed UKTI to enhance some of its existing services such as Passport to Export and Gateway to Global Growth.

“Our new services will provide match funding to SMEs to travel to overseas markets, attend overseas trade fairs and assistance to identify the best route into a market. There will also be match funding support with costs such as international web design, translations and localisation of promotion materials.”

The “Thailand Market Clinics” will take place at the Joe Harvey Suite at St James’ Park, Newcastle on Wednesday, 5 January 2011, 10am-3pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .