Midlands businesses lead export drive.
Ten construction companies from the Midlands are heading to Dubai later this month as part of a Midlands Engine visit to fly the flag for British expertise and innovation.
The delegation, organised by the Department for International Trade in the Midlands, will see the businesses visit The Big 5 exhibition, the largest construction event in the Middle East with more than 3,000 exhibitors from 142 countries. They will be flying out on 20th November to get ready for the exhibition, which takes place from 21st-25th November.
Ian Harrison, acting director, Department for International Trade in the Midlands, said: “The Midlands Engine mission to Dubai is a huge opportunity for businesses in the construction sector. Not only will they get to visit the exhibition, attend seminars and have the scope for individual meetings, they will also get the chance to spend a day in Abu Dhabi and find out more about how they can get involved in the EXPO 2020.
“The Midlands has world-leading capabilities when it comes to innovation and quality. Being able to take these companies to showcase their work is a real boost and as our Exporting is GREAT campaign demonstrates, there are some amazing international opportunities out there. Never before has it been so important to expand internationally and the Department of International Trade has the expertise to help businesses of all sizes succeed.”
There are currently more than 250 live export opportunities in the construction sector, from a call for waste water treatment plants in Morocco and light fittings in Kuwait to a need for road contractors in Uganda and railway engineering products in Japan.
Pietro Cardente, International Sales Director of Dudley-based Conex Bänninger, which designs, manufactures and supplies plumbing fittings, valves and bathroom products, will be one of the businesses attending. He said: “Attendance at the Big 5 gives us the chance to talk face-to-face with customers new and old, and explain the benefits of all the technologies manufactured by Conex Bänninger and the benefits they can offer the MENA market.
“One striking difference between the UK and MENA markets is the types of fittings used, with the Middle Eastern territories continuing to use traditional braze fittings. Whilst still a valued method, especially for bigger installations on a commercial scale, braze fittings do present challenges in terms of time efficiency, reliability and health and safety.
“Press-fit technologies, like those that we are showcasing here at The Big 5, are an innovation that has massively grown in popularity in the UK, Europe and international markets, and we predict that it will here, too.”
Any West Midlands company wanting to find out how the Department for International Trade can provide support for export, should visit www.exportingisgreat.gov.uk to search and apply for opportunities, access expert advice, trade services, training and events.