North West companies alerted to International Trade Week

UK Trade & Investment

UK Trade & Investment has announced the opening of an information hotline for International Trade Week - the major export promotion event of 2006.

Designed to help North West businesses to realise their international ambitions and recognise the benefits of overseas trade, International Trade Week events take place at venues throughout the North West from Monday 5 March, highlighting the potential for companies to develop markets abroad and showcase the breadth of support services
available.

Companies wishing to find out more about what the week has to offer in their locality can now phone 01925 400190 during office hours to register their interest and receive regularly updated information about events of interest to them.

International Trade Week March 2005 attracted more than 1,200 people to over two dozen events, including 250 companies at the centrepiece of the week's activities, International Trade Day, which this year takes place in the De Vere White's Hotel at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton on Wednesday 8 March, hosted by BBC Match of the Day presenter
Adrian Chiles.

International Trade Week is a major factor in UK Trade & Investment's strategy to boost export and economic performance in the North West.

A CBI survey recently revealed the North West to be one of only three UK regions currently reporting an increase in export orders and manufacturing output.

And as Clive Drinkwater, the region's newly appointed export director points out: "The fact that both these key indicators are bucking the national trend in the North West is no coincidence. UK Trade & Investment has put in the extra effort and resources to ensure that international trade helps to drive regional economic success and we will continue to do so through initiatives such as International Trade Week.

"Our aim is to help broaden the business horizons of North West companies. New markets mean new business and this in turn means company growth.

"There is overwhelming evidence that businesses engaged in overseas trade are more productive, employ more staff and are better able to cope with any economic downturn in the UK market. We will be stressing the business benefits of international trade and demonstrating the global network of support services that are available for companies to win business abroad."

Register with the event hotline on 01925 400190 or email keithditchfield.ukti@nwda.co.uk as soon as possible to ensure you are kept up to date with the latest International Trade Week news.