Export strategy is the key to recovery

Trade missions and export support services will be pivotal in helping local companies develop their export capacity and succeed in creating jobs here says Londonderry Invest NI boss Des Gartland.

In a statement from the Invest NI North West Development Office on Londonderry's riverside Mr Gartland outlined his department's work in "exporting services" which he billed as "a key part of recovery."

He referred to Investment Minister Arlene Foster's statement to the Stormont Assembly on the Independent Review of Economic Policy (IREP) last month and her recommendations on assisting industry by driving innovation in businesses.

Mr McGartland stated: "As the current downturn continues to affect consumer and business confidence, our companies, along with many others in the UK are seeking to take advantage of the weak pound to drive export growth and economic recovery."

But the local trade boss acknowledged achieving this would be a hard ask in a global climate in which most economies are experiencing weak domestic markets and there is fierce competition in export markets.

"Our closest neighbours in Euroland, such as Germany, despite the strong Euro continue to focus on new markets if only because, in their domestic markets, many are choosing to save rather than spend, for the first time in a long time.

"Against this climate it is interesting to note that Northern Ireland exports to Europe (not including ROI) have increased as a percentage of total exports for the first time since 2000 whilst sales within NI have declined," he stated.

The world's largest growing economy China is also searching for new export markets making the competition for local firms all the more stiff but despite this Mr McGartland is optimistic.

"Locally, a very positive trend is that many of our more progressive services, and not only those such as software and business services, are taking positive actions to broaden their customer base internationally," he stated.

"Encouragingly, a growing volume of these come from the realms of professional services, and not only those such as software and business services.

"We are seeing increasing participation in our export programmes from a wide spectrum of services companies from healthcare and medical services to property and construction support services, such as surveyors, designers, planning consultants, local businesses which have historically relied on servicing their local market are travelling from West Coast USA to China and most points in between in search of their new markets. For many this is particularly daunting, but it need not be unnecessarily complicated," he wrote.

Participation in trade missions and export programmes has been boosted by a series of events held by Invest NI last year in conjunction with local councils and enterprise agencies to address the economic recession and highlight the range of support available to businesses.

Mr McGartland argued that export skills and knowledge workshops provide practical support and guidance for companies looking to enter export markets. He believes the workshops are ideal for planners and managers of the export process.

"And when it comes to going to market, again, support is tailored to specific needs. For example, the Apple worldwide developers conference, or Microsoft global partners conference give small, growing progressive technology companies, the ultimate platforms to both showcase their capability in such areas as i-phone applications and to identify potential strategic partners.

"In the Middle East, major exhibitions such as Gulfood and Arab Health give international exposure to local producers and service providers. Support is available from Invest NI, both financial and advisory.

"Our programme of trade missions and support service is, of course, open to any business which is engaged in tradable services or manufacturing and is one of the means through which the organisation actively engages with the wider business base to broaden the reach of our offering."

An upcoming free e-business seminar will take place at the Invest NI office in Timber Quay in Londonderry on February 23. It is the first in a series being held across the North West this spring.