More than sixty companies on largest Welsh Trade Mission to the USA

The largest ever international trade mission to leave Wales gets underway next month when more than sixty companies from a range of industry sectors fly out to the United States with the aim of winning new business.

And this week (Thursday May 21) participating companies get together for the first time at the Village Hotel in Cardiff for the latest briefings on the market and detailed information on the varied programme of events organised by International Business Wales – the international trade arm of the Welsh Assembly Government.

The mission ( June 20 – June 27) coincides with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington when Wales as the featured nation will have an exceptionally high profile as the two week event attracts more than a million visitors from across the States.

Three key industry sectors are represented on the mission - Aerospace, Life sciences and biosciences and the creative industries – together with companies involved in textiles, IT, environment and energy, consumer goods and food and beverage.

IBW has been working with in-market partners in the States to draw up a number of highly specialist programmes and seminars for the key sectors as well as numerous pre-arranged meetings for companies.

Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport, said the proactive approach taken by the Assembly Government helped provide a focus for Welsh businesses that were looking ahead and planning to be in pole position when there was an upturn in the economy.

“IBW has worked extremely hard to develop a high quality programme for companies visiting the States to generate interest and set up meetings so they can hit the ground running and meet the relevant senior personnel and decision makers in key companies.

“The interest this mission has created – both in Wales and the States – is extremely encouraging in the current economic climate. It illustrates that Welsh companies are looking to the future, are extremely keen to develop opportunities in the States and actively pursuing new trade openings which is fully supported by the Assembly Government.

“The United States is Wales’ largest export market and this is the biggest trade mission ever undertaken from Wales – we now have more than sixty companies and organisations booked on the mission whereas the largest previous mission had eighteen companies.

“The mission will also undoubtedly benefit from the promotion associated with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival which will be a major showcase for all things Welsh.”

On arrival in the States the creative industries contingent will head for New York for a series of prearranged meetings, the Life Sciences/Bioscience group will head for San Diego to attend a trade show and the programme for the aerospace and defence sectors is based in Washington.

In addition a series of pre arranged meetings have been arranged for other companies around the States.  The mission will culminate in Washington for a Press Conference and a trade reception and networking opportunity at the British Embassy with the First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

Scott Horowitz, the former astronaut who visited numerous companies on a recent tour of Wales, has helped facilitate an event at the NASA Langley Research Centre near Washington for Welsh companies where research and development and procurement opportunities will be flagged up.

Participants will be given a tour of the facilities at Langley, meet key personnel and be given presentations on the special programmes NASA Langley has with industry and academia.

A Boeing outreach programme has been arranged for aerospace and defence companies offering one to one meetings with senior Boeing staff, including supply chain managers.

Businesses in the Welsh creative industries sector will have the opportunity to meet representatives from a number of television channels including Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, History Channel, Lifetime and public TV stations as well as brokers.

A number of Welsh films will also be screened at various receptions to highlight the quality and variety of productions from Wales.

A mission brochure containing a profile of all companies and organisations on the mission will be circulated to trade and business organisations in the States as well as individual companies and the media.

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19 May 2009