The eye catching 23 ton, 40ft long Export Hub truck motors into Pembroke Dock next month on the first stage of its tour of Wales geared to get more businesses exporting and selling overseas.
The Export Hub, part of the UK wide Exporting is GREAT campaign, will provide real-time export opportunities to companies of all sizes and provide face to face advice and expertise to support Welsh businesses at every step on their exporting journey.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart will launch the high profile two week tour – a joint initiative between Welsh Government and UK Government – in Pembroke Dock on the first leg of the Export Hub journey across Wales.
It will visit nine locations in South, Mid and North Wales and host a series of seminars, drop-in sessions and one-to-one meetings with export experts working in markets across the globe.
The Minister said: “Welsh exports currently total £11 billion, making a significant contribution to the economy – and bringing real benefits for all those businesses involved.
“Exporting opens up a massive global market where there is real demand for British goods and services and I want Welsh businesses to be aware of these opportunities and be in pole position to take advantage of them.
“The Export Hub roadshows are open to businesses of any size, working in any sector – including those already trading internationally and those that are potentially first time exporters.”
The Hub is equipped with the latest technology including interactive touch screens, handheld touchscreens, computers, wi-fi, a private Skype zone, a large format presentation screen, small meeting booths and a networking/meeting space for between 40-50 people.
Businesses can book for pre-booked drop-in sessions, one to one meetings with market experts – some of which will be carried out via Skype linking businesses to experts overseas.
In addition a number of venues will also hold sessions on how companies can optimise their websites for international trade. These are off-Hub activities and will be held at venues close to where the Export Hub will be parked.
Companies wishing to attend the drop-in sessions or book 1-2-1 sessions need to register their interest at: www.businesswales.gov.wales/zones/export/export-events where further information is available on the venues.
On the Export Hub businesses will be able to use interactive screens to access information on the Exporting is GREAT web site which lists and updates more than 1000 export opportunities posted by overseas companies, organisations and governments that are specifically looking for UK suppliers and manufacturers.
It presents real-time export opportunities that businesses can apply for online.
Examples of current listings range from a Chinese company looking for British frozen meat products to a beer importer from Brazil looking for new brands; from a Singaporean company looking for expertise in monitoring and evaluation for autonomous vehicle trials to a Turkish Consultant Company seeking a partner for a tender announced for a Sub-Sea Tunnel Project in Istanbul.
The Wales tour forms part of the UK-wide Exporting is GREAT campaign which aims to inspire and encourage SMEs to get exporting. It forms part of the drive to get 100,000 additional companies exporting by 2020.
Export Hub timetable
15 February Pembroke Dock – (9am- 2pm launch event)
16 February Swansea (10am- 2pm, Skype with market expert in Czech Republic )
17 February Ebb Vale (10am – 2pm, Skype with market expert in Brazil
18 February Cardiff (10am – 2pm, market expert from China)
19 February Newport (10am-12.30pm, export opportunities in India)
22 February Bangor (10am – 2pm, market expert from Canada)
23 February St Asaph (10am- 2pm, Skype with market expert from Germany)
24 February Newtown (10am- 2pm, market expert from China)
25 February Deeside (10am- 2pm, market expert from India)
26 February – Wrexham – (9am- 4pm) Export Opportunities in the Gulf, this event will be held at Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium with a specific focus on doing businesses in the Gulf with representatives present from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.