| The spectacular lighting up
of New York’s Empire State Building this spring
in the Welsh colours of red, green and white highlighted
the special relationship that exists between Wales and
North America.
On 1 March 2004 a delegation of politicians, business
leaders and artists from Wales descended on the Big
Apple to turn the world’s most famous landmark
into a little piece of Wales for the day.
The ceremony, staged on Wales’s national day,
which is held to honour its patron saint St David, was
to symbolise the many economic and cultural links that
exist between Wales and North America.
Promoting these links and highlighting the opportunities
that exist in North America is high on the agenda of
the Welsh Assembly Government in 2004. And while recognising
that North America is vitally important to the economy
of Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government also recognises
that Wales has, for many years, played an important
role in providing North American companies with a foothold
in Europe.
Today, trading links between Wales and North America
are being fostered and built upon largely by the activities
of WalesTrade International (WTI), a body created by
the Welsh Assembly Government in 2000 to develop the
nation’s export culture.
Since its inception, WTI has become fully involved in
developing a strong presence for Wales in the North
American market. This has focused on building a network
of relationships, via a set of contacts, which includes
a presence in New York, and new offices
in San Francisco and Chicago, all established to create
relationships between trading companies on both continents.
One of the most significant developments came to fruition
in the autumn of 2002 when Andrew Davies, Minister for
Economic Development & Transport, announced the
location of Wales’s first international centre
in New York. The location of the centre at New York’s
famous Chrysler Building at 405 Lexington Avenue is
testament to the seriousness with which Wales takes
its presence in the city.
“The US is already a major export market for companies
in Wales and there is immense potential for us to further
exploit this market. Many US companies have already
invested significantly in Wales and I am confident that
our successful track record will trigger further interest,”
says Davies.
“By raising the profile of Wales in the US, one
hopes to show the progress the Assembly Government has
already made in transforming Wales into a modern, dynamic
economy and establishing Wales as a true World Nation.”
Wales has always been a world trader and increasing
international trade performance is a key element in
the development of its global status and a major contributor
to the growing economy of the nation. This is where
WTI excels in bringing trade opportunities to companies
both on a national and international scale.
Geoff Harding, WTI Deputy Director (International Trade),
says the organisation is at the leading edge of public
sector-led initiatives aimed at furthering the fortunes
of the Welsh economy.
“WTI is the driving force in establishing strategic
business alliances between Welsh companies and their
counterparts worldwide and we are actively seeking to
make contact with more American companies who we can
work with to mutual benefit,” he says.
“Our commitment to developing commercial prospects
in the US has already led to a number of successful
trade missions to North America, and a proposed new
series of missions in 2004 and beyond,” he says.
In June last year, WTI was a major exhibitor at the
Bio 2003 trade fair in Washington and it followed this
up by leading a mission of Welsh companies to the COMDEX
trade fair in Los Angeles in November.
“Wales continues to look to the future as the
business climate revives and companies embrace the global
challenge. We take the view that building commercial
relations is more important than ever,” says Harding.
"The opportunities are there to be discovered and
we have already seen successful visits to Wales by representatives
of the Pentagon and Boeing as part of our OFFSET programme.
This programme taps into the opportunities made available
through intergovernment offset commitments for reciprocal
trade in return for the placement of defence contracts.”
Indeed, Welsh exporters have recently been given much-appreciated
hands-on advice to help them
step up their efforts to target lucrative opportunities
for international trade offered by the US Department
of Defence (DoD).
Paul Forster, a Boeing executive who heads the company’s
programme to help UK firms to identify
DoD contract opportunities, told a gathering of high
profile Welsh exporters that while organisations such
as WTI provided first-class support, companies such
as Boeing were also keen to provide advice and guidance
to companies wanting to knock on the door of US defence
buyers.
“Boeing can assist in identifying the most likely
matches and points of contact across a wide range of
sectors. Boeing assistance on US procurements is provided
without cost to UK firms. While some legislative barriers
for materials such as textiles and food stuffs remain,
the position is that open competition is encouraged,”
he says
.“I do not think developing trade with the DoD
is anymore complicated than opening a new market anywhere
else in the world”, says Forster. “Just
like any other markets, companies need to take a long-term
stance and expect a three-to four-year lead-in time
before being successful.
”Another Welsh firm with a strong foothold in
the US specialises in the design and manufacture of
high-quality cutting tools for the home, garden and
office. It has recently carved out major new business
opportunities in the US with the support of WTI.
WTI has helped Tonic Studios exhibit at a prestigious
trade fair in Las Vegas, resulting in significant new
orders.
“Our attendance at the Memory Trends show in Las
Vegas resulted in potential new orders of $500,000,
which is a fantastic result,” says Tonic director,
Simon Bathard.
The firm has followed up this success by securing a
presence at the equally-important United States Hobby
Industry Association trade fair in Dallas in 2004. “The
US is a major opportunity for us, but it is obviously
a very significant drain on our resources to make the
journey. We are very grateful to WTI’s programme
of support to help make these visits possible,”
says Bathard.
Rob Thomas, Chief Executive of WTI said,“We have
been instrumental in bringing together many US and Welsh
companies for mutually-beneficial trading partnerships.
Just as important is the fact that we have been able
to bring the wide-ranging innovation and technology
achievements of businesses in Wales to the attention
of America.
”Thomas says WTI is committed to increasing its
activities on the North American continent over the
coming years. “As well as continuing our multi-sector
trade missions, we aim to focus greatly on specific
industry sectors and ensure Welsh companies have every
means at their disposal to link up with North American
commerce,” he says.
WTI’s efforts in maintaining relationships and
helping open doors for Welsh companies continues in
2004, with a comprehensive series of missions to the
US.
|
