Several innovative and exciting South West businesses have been selected to join a 5-day tour to India departing 10th March.
Ameeta Virk, India Market Specialist, Business West and Siddharth Mukne, Regional Head, UK India Business Council will lead a jam-packed trip to Mumbai and Delhi where over 70 meetings with prospective buyers, distributors and partners have been confirmed.
Eight businesses from the South West of England who aim to access the vast opportunities in India met this week at Leigh Court for a pre-visit session prepare for an intensive schedule of commercial meetings and networking events.
Richard McCallum, Managing Director, UKIBC said of the visit ‘I am delighted to be supporting this initiative. India is a very different place than it was 10 years ago, the Indian economy has doubled in size since 2003, and it will overtake the UK in GDP this year. UKIBC helps to promote UK business interests in India, we can help with anything from market entry strategy to making business introductions in the region.’
We asked a few of the businesses coming along, why India?
Amanda Wilkinson, CEO of Motivation UK, a company providing wheelchairs for disabled people in developing countries, said ‘Motivation is delighted to be part of the visit to India. The trip will provide an invaluable opportunity for us to explore potential new business opportunities, strengthen our brand in India and to cement important stakeholder relationships.’
Icon Films is an independent production company with over 25 years’ experience of working with major international broadcasters and was recently ranked at number 32 in the Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track 100. The Bristol-based producer will be sharing their content with new contacts and looking to explore co-production potential with Indian production companies and build relationships with organisations that have demonstrated strong corporate social and environmental responsibility.
Well-known Bristol based brand Trunki are participating to learn more about the market. Nancy West, International Sales Manager said, ‘We are currently exporting all over the world but India remains our smallest market, despite its huge potential customer base – we are excited to be going to India to make new connections with distributors and buyers.’
Philip Marsh, Managing Director, Rainbow Club added “Rainbow Club and Chatham are quintessentially British footwear brands, with an impressive and established heritage. Both brands’ luxurious portfolios of shoes make India, with its emerging middle class, a natural fit for us. As one the fastest growing retail markets in the world, this is an exciting time for the brands to make its mark in the region.
In addition to leading this high-profile market visit, Ameeta Virk will be directly representing a number of South West companies including Beyond the Bean, Original Style, Pulsin and Vivo Life. Speaking about the project, Ameeta explained “After working closely with my clients leading up this visit, I am extremely excited about showcasing these established brands in front of leading buyers and securing new business on their behalves.”
About Export for Growth
This most recent trip to India is part of Extend Your Global Reach, part of Export for Growth, a free support programme part funded by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by Business West. It aims to help support South West businesses to access opportunities in the complex markets of Asia and Latin America.
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