Council Launches 2017 Trade Development Programmes

November 22, 2016

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council recently launched its trade missions to The Netherlands and Central & Eastern Europe at an information seminar hosted in the Island Civic Centre, Lisburn as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2016.

These programmes will be delivered by the Northern Ireland Trade Consultants (NITC) and will visit Amsterdam in January 2017 and Slovenia in March 2017.

This time around the programmes are targeted at local business owners and managers who wish to be equipped with the relevant in-depth knowledge, know-how and confidence to successfully operate in these markets. 

Councillor Uel Mackin, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, speaking about the Programmes, said: “The Council appreciates that all businesses are being challenged in the current economic climate to find new customers both locally and globally.  To assist such businesses the Council has identified the Slovenian and Dutch marketplaces as a focus for potential new trade development activity.

“Global Entrepreneurship Week is the ideal time to launch these trade programmes as it is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators. These programmes will support businesses to research new potential export markets in terms of customers, importers, distribution partners and suppliers or subcontractors. 

“I would encourage any local business that has the potential to expand into international markets to contact the Council’s Business Solutions Team and avail of the support on offer or make contact with the delivery agent, who can provide further details,” concluded Councillor Mackin.

Due to the Council’s substantial contribution each participating business will only be required to pay £600 (ex. VAT) as their contribution to the programme that will include travel and accommodation.

The programme is now open for recruitment and if you are a business based within the Council area and interested in finding out further information please contact Steve Murnaghan on 0031 20 421 7400 or by email on murn@nitc.nl