Sales target is India as Chamber International brings first OBNI event to Yorkshire

A key event to help boost Yorkshire’s exports to India –  where the national economy is growing at six per cent a year -  is being held in Leeds next month.

The half-day event, being arranged by overseas trade specialist Chamber International, will promote the Overseas Business Network Initiative (OBNi) launched by prime minister, David Cameron, with an £8m investment last year (2013) with the aim of doubling the UK’s annual exports to £1tr by 2020 and increasing the number of UK exporters by 100,000.

Up to 80 exporting businesses are expected to attend the event at law firm Irwin Mitchell LLP, on December 4 which will include a presentation by the Manchester-based director of the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), Steve Toogood, on accessing the Indian market.

Steve Toogood, who is also UKIBC director of regions, spent more than 20 years in the private sector working for the Olympus Corporation. He was vice president for Olympus Surgical Industrial America Inc, New York, and director of Olympus's industrial business, including responsibility for research and development and international sales and marketing with agents and distributors in India and throughout Asia. 

The event will also feature talks by associate solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, Sandip Khroud, who will discuss legal issues of trading in India, such as protecting intellectual property rights, and associate consultant, Gehan Wanduragala of Kanvic Consulting Private Ltd, Karnataka, India, who will advise on how to adapt UK products for the Indian market.

The event will be also attended by many of the region’s top exporters from Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s We are International initiative to give free advice to delegate businesses.

Chamber International account executive, Joseph Baker, who is organising the event, says: “This first OBNi event in Yorkshire about a specific national export market presents an important opportunity for the growing number of companies which see their growth through international trade to gain valuable insights into the benefits of doing business with India.

“India’s economy is growing at an impressive six per cent with several states expanding at a staggering 10 per cent so the potential rewards of trading there are significant, providing compelling reasons why India should figure prominently in every business strategy.

“However, there are nuances that companies looking at India need to be aware of. The Indian market requires thorough preparation and a long-term approach and this event seeks to give businesses a clear overview from which they can develop, or refine, their own strategies.” 

Chamber International, Bradford, assists chambers of commerce with a wide range of specialist international trade services and is also supporting Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) by creating its We Are International export ambassador network, part of an initiative which aims to bring an extra £1.6bn to ten local authority areas and create thousands of new jobs in the next four years.

Click here to book your place at the event.

Follow Chamber International @ChamberInt.