Greater Manchester: Where the world comes to talk business

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce unveils new branding

Over the next few weeks Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce will be playing a key part in flying the flag for local business as a series of high profile overseas delegations visit the region to talk business.

With events planned with Pittsburgh and South Carolina, and visits from six national overseas chambers (Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey) in the pipeline, the next few weeks offer a unique chance for local businesses looking to expand overseas.

Pittsburgh:

First in town on 24 September is a delegation from Pittsburgh as they stop over en-route from Dublin to London. The delegation, put together by Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, will attend a reception held at Manchester Art gallery on the evening of 24th which will be attended by over 60 businesses before a breakfast roundtable the following morning on the opportunities opening up in the US for the engineering and manufacturing companies in the engineering sector.

The story of Pittsburgh’s decline as the main steel production centre in the US and subsequent rise again as a centre for advanced engineering and manufacturing has great similarities with Manchester’s own story.

South Carolina:

A week later a delegation of businesses from South Carolina’s automotive and aeronautical engineering sectors will spend a few days in the North West visiting the University of Manchester and attending events at Daresbury and in Liverpool.

Market Connections: Advice for Exporting:

On the 15 October, the Chamber will be playing host to six overseas chambers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey as part of the build up activity to a major conference to be held in London on 17th October. This event, organised by British Chambers of Commerce, will see 14 other overseas chambers represented as the first step in a new overseas chamber initiative in 20 key markets which Greater Manchester Chamber is playing a leading role.

Chris Fletcher, Director of Policy and Communications at the Chamber said: “These really are exciting times for local business looking to either export for the first time or to grow their existing overseas markets. Businesses put great faith in making connections in person. By having the opportunity to meet existing businesses and business leaders from key overseas markets face to face, a lot of the mystique and uncertainty is removed.

“These latest events are a continuation of some work that we have already had success with, such as the visit to New England earlier in the year as well as our recent Doing Business in Russia event. By working with key partners such as UKTI and with support from our export team, things really are now falling into place with regards to making sure local businesses can see and understand the benefit of trading overseas.

“These are important events but really are the first steps in a much longer journey. When our guests have departed it is important that some form of legacy remains that can deliver more opportunities in the future. We are determined at the Chamber that this happens.