Economy Minister Edwina Hart has announced a new programme of 15 overseas events to promote trade during a visit to International Trade Day Wales today (Wednesday 13 November).
The events will take place between February and November next year and will cover 13 different countries in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
“We are making good progress in developing international trade,” said Mrs Hart. “The value of exports from Wales this quarter is at the highest level since 2011.
“We want to build on that success by providing assistance to Welsh businesses at all stages of their efforts to increase exports. This includes a comprehensive programme of overseas trade missions and exhibitions, like those I have announced today and events like International Trade Day Wales where businesses can get advice and find out what support is available to them.”
Over 130 companies took part in the Welsh Government’s International Trade Day Wales 2013 at the Vale Resort as part of the UK-wide Export Week (11-15 November).
A combination of exhibits, trade development workshops and round table discussions took place to help small and medium size enterprises, based in Wales, who are either exporting or are looking to trade internationally.
The issue of trade missions was a hotly contested one at a ‘Wales and the World Debate’ hosted by the South Wales Chamber of Commerce last night. Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies AM challenged Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Ken Skates AM, on the low attendance at some trade missions.
Davies argued: “We do support the trade missions, but they are political focused, not business focused. We need to find out what businesses want and then decide on a schedule of missions, rather than pick somewhere and then ring around our businesses to find support.”
Welsh Government programme of overseas trade missions and exhibitions announced today:
Photonics West, San Francisco, US | 4-6 February 2014
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Trade Mission | February 2014
Hong Kong Trade Mission | 17-24 March 2014
Abu Dhabi (UAE) Trade Mission | 3-8 May 2014
CeBIT Sydney, Australia | 5-7 May 2014
AUVSI Exhibition, Orlando, USA | 12-15 May 2014
Tel Aviv (Israel) Trade Mission | 19-21 May 2014
Johannesburg (South Africa) Trade Mission | 16-21 June 2014
Chicago (USA) Trade Mission | 7-11 September 2014
Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) Trade Mission | 22-26 September 2014
Innotrans Berlin, Germany | 23-26 September 2014
MRO Europe Madrid, Spain | 7-9 October 2014
MIPCOM Cannes, France | 13-16 October 2014
WOMEX Santiago de Compostela, Spain | 22-26 October 2014
Medica Dusseldorf, Germany | 12-15 November 2014
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