Proving that Lisburn & Castlereagh businesses have an eye firmly on growing their businesses in international markets, eleven local companies travelled to Amsterdam with representatives from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. This was part of a Council funded trade programme and to attend the 11th NI-NL Export & Trade Export Society Trade Dinner in Amsterdam as an opportunity to meet with their Dutch business partners and new business contacts in the market. 

 

The Mayor, Councillor Bloomfield MBE, speaking at the dinner, said: “Sustained growth in exports is critical to the success of the local Lisburn Castlereagh economy, and I’m pleased to say that business links with the Netherlands have never been stronger. I was also greatly honoured to welcome the British Ambassador to the Netherlands, Sir Geoffrey Adams, to the NI-NL trade dinner, demonstrating the value which is placed at the highest levels of government on the delivery of international trade initiatives such as NI-NL.”

 

Councillor Uel Mackin, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, added: “As a Council we are proud to have had the strategic foresight to be one of the founding members of the Northern Ireland - Netherlands Trade & Export Society 11 years ago.  Lisburn Castlereagh is an entrepreneurial City, with a Council that puts the local economy first, and I can proudly say we are leading the way for local government as we are the only Council from N. Ireland to proactively fund and support trade links for our local businesses into the Netherlands and the wider European marketplace at this time.”

 

Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive of the Council commented: “I for one am delighted with the support from local businesses who travelled with the Council to attend this annual NI-NL trade dinner here in Amsterdam.  These companies are great ambassadors for the City of Lisburn & Castlereagh, not only helping to demonstrate the quality of products and services produced locally, but sending out a clear message that despite these uncertain times, the Council area is open and ready for business. 

 

Trade missions supported by the Council offer local businesses a unique opportunity to access export markets like the Netherlands, with a programme of tailored support designed to make it as easy as possible for local business to exploit new business and trade links.”

 

Council led trade missions to the Netherlands have to date generated several million pounds to the local economy.  This most recent visit which coincided with the annual NI-NL trade dinner was described by the five businesses who participated on the trade element, as having the potential to generate significant turnover for local businesses.  The participating businesses were Alan Edwards from Mushroom Machine Company; Rick Johnston from Jumping Jacks; Julian Whitehead from PPSL Precision Processing Services Ltd; David Johnston from Gardencare and Terry Simpson from VoJo Media.

 

If you are a local business and want to find out how the Council’s Business Solutions team can help your business to grow, please log on to www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/business_solutions or email Patricia Mallon at patricia.mallon@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk