October/November 2006

STAFFORDSHIRE TRADE ADVISERS LAUNCH NEW SOUTH EAST ASIA WEBSITE

West Midlands firms seeking to trade with South East Asia now have a wealth of information at their fingertips, thanks to UK Trade & Investment’s international trade team at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

The new website link – www.ukseal.co.uk - was launched at a prestigious event at Stoke-on-Trent’s Britannia Stadium on Friday (27 October) by Staffordshire Chamber Services, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) UK Business Forum and the Midlands World Trade Forum.

Financed through the EU’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), it is designed to be a focal point for international trade between the West Midlands and South East Asia, concentrating on Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.

His Excellency Edgardo B. Espiritu, the Philippines Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Iceland, made the keynote address. 

Other guest speakers included Dawn Gibbins MBE, chairman of Sandbach-based specialist flooring and decking business Flowcrete Group plc, SK Lingam, chairman of ASEAN-UK Business Forum, (and David Carr, president of North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

The event also provided valuable opportunities for 98 delegates from businesses, universities and government departments to network and share experiences of trading with South East Asia.

UK Trade & Investment senior international trade adviser Cheryl Ness, based at North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, has co-ordinated the launch of the new website.

She said: “In 2004, UK exports to South East Asia were £4,200m – nearly double the value of exports to China for the same period.

“In the continuing drive to sell to the more high profile market of China, British businesses shouldn’t overlook South East Asia.

“The website will be a vital tool to help West Midlands firms reach this growing market by promoting, creating and developing business opportunities and services for them within South East Asia. It will also be a source of important information for companies to formalise an export strategy.”

PICTURED from left to right (standing) are Dawn Gibbins MBE, chairman of Flowcrete Group plc, SK Lingam, chairman of ASEAN-UK Business Forum, and UK Trade & Investment Senior International Trade Advisor Cheryl Ness. Seated (from left) are VIP guest His Excellency Edgardo B. Espiritu, and David Carr, president of North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.