International Linkages & Investments
Local Business and Council representatives who participated on the Trade Development visit to the Netherlands (May 2002).





(L-R) Councillor Jim Dillon (Vice Chairman of the Economic Development Committee), Dr Michael Mowlan (Director of British Trade & Investment in S.Africa), Councillor Bill Gardiner-Watson (Chairman of the Economic Development Committee), Paul McCormick (Economic Development Officer) and Mr Paul Williams (African Business Access) during a Trade Development meeting in Johannesburg, S.Africa.

The Council’s Economic Development Unit has continued to develop and fund trade development programmes with a strong international theme over the last year, giving local companies access to export markets, often for the first time. These programmes are designed to be inclusive and accessible across the broad spectrum of business activity throughout the City of Lisburn.

> The ‘International Business Initiative’, a high profile trade development programme, has successfully been delivered by IBI Ltd in the City of Lisburn for the past five years. Last year saw the Council working closely again with five local companies committed to developing international trade linkages. The participating companies, Boomer Industries, Fire & Flooring Systems, Texam Ltd, Keeble (NI) Ltd and Mourne Fireplaces, have all identified new opportunities in the US and European markets and are exploring the potential to manufacture new products under licence or develop complimentary products or services for distribution in the UK or Republic of Ireland. Total investment to date in new technologies and systems between the five participating companies is £180,000 with additional future sales expectations in the region of £500,000 over the next three years.

> European Outlook Initiative, Trade Visit to the Netherlands which took place in June 2002. Six Lisburn companies, Tractormatic, Nulife Engineering, Prestige Tools, Fleming Mechanical Services, Smiley Monroe and Power Action participated in a four day visit of pre arranged meetings with Dutch companies with a view to meeting with potential importers and agents, identifying new products and production techniques or simply viewing “best practice” in leading Dutch companies. This trade visit has resulted in £40,000 of new sales to date with a further £200,000 expected in 2003.
> Another exciting international market which the Council has helped local companies gain exposure to is South Africa through the South African Trade Development Programme. The Council has been working with thirteen local companies with a view to identifying areas for future co-operation as well as exploring the potential to develop new trade agreements, exchange of best practice and sharing knowledge. A trade visit to South Africa took place in October 2002 with another market visit in May 2003, and an inbound South African Ministerial delegation visiting Lisburn in July 2003. Early indications show new export, manufacture under licence, and reciprocal trading relationships to be likely.

> The Council is keen to assist local companies to explore new EU markets in Central & Eastern Europe and has recruited eight high growth orientated local companies to participate on a trade visit due to take place in Autumn 2003.

> The Council will host an inbound delegation from the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle in September 2003 and have been invited to participate in a Trade Visit to Seattle in November 2003.
(L-R) Andre Hoeksma from Dutch company A&A Consultancy pictured with Simon Barnes of Merlin Interactive, Councillor Bill Gardiner-Watson (Chairman of the Economic Development Committee) and Aaron Young of Merlin Interactive. These two companies are now doing business as a result of the Council’s trade visit to the Netherlands in 2003.