International Opportunities for Kent Businesses

We are delighted to be launching the Kent and Medway International Business Zone at this year’s Kent 2020 Vision LIVE event, where companies can find out what support is available across Kent to help their business access overseas markets.  Through organisations such as Enterprise Europe South East UK and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) South East, the Kent International Business partners will be available to talk to businesses about export and how to find business partners across Europe.  The 2 Seas Trade Project will also be represented in the zone, a project which specifically helps businesses to access the Dutch, Belgian, French and UK markets.

In addition to advice on export and overseas trade, representatives in the zone can offer advice on specialist topics such as business sustainability and low carbon solutions, as well as recruitment and training and innovation and growth.  Information can also be obtained on the support available for companies wishing to take on an overseas graduate or looking to move into managed business space.  All of this support and expertise is available through a number of European projects led by Kent County Council, Medway Council and BSK, alongside other project partners through the European Cross-border Cooperation Programme INTERREG IV A 2 Seas and France (Channel) – England, co-funded by the ERDF.

The Kent partners will be welcoming project representatives and businesses from France and potential collaborations have already been identified so that meetings for businesses wanting to sell their product or service into the UK market and vice versa can be arranged in advance.  The French visitors will be greeted with an introduction to Kent and some tips and advice on how to make the most out of the event.

A programme of presentations and workshops has been developed for Kent 2020 to detail the business benefits of Kent International Business and the EU projects featuring in the zone. Project Officers from FUSION, GAPS, BRIDGE, IMPRESS and NDI will take to the floor in the Clive Emson building to promote the services and financial incentives that are offered through each of the projects, thanks to the generous EU funding available.

At the end of the day, local Kent produce will be on offer during a selective tasting session and our French visitors will finish their day at the Charity Auction Dinner, where a food hamper has been donated for auction by La Fontaine a Confiture, a Normandy-based food producer who is visiting Kent 2020 for the first time and looking for importers and distributors in Kent.

To find out more, make sure you visit Kent International Business at Kent 2020 Vision LIVE on 25th April 2013.

FREE REGISTRATION: www.kent2020.co.uk

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