Wales Office
Businesses in north Wales must seize the huge opportunities created by the UKs first International Festival of Business to attract investment and boost trade with new markets around the world.
Thats the message from the Secretary of State for Wales David Jones as more than 250,000 visitors from more than 100 countries get ready to attend the festival next week (9th June).
Liverpool is hosting the festival but all parts of the UK will be represented at the event.
It will be the UKs most significant international trade and commerce showcase since the 1951 Festival of Britain and the biggest concentration of business events globally in 2014.
Organisers hope the festival will attract 100million or more of new investment into the UK and connect British businesses with new international markets.
Scheduled events include Opportunity North Wales on June 26 which will focus on manufacturing, science and technology and feature keynote speakers from leading industry representatives in the region.
It will also showcase the multiple opportunities for businesses to invest in North Wales thanks to the regions diverse sectors and highly skilled workforce.
Other events will cover cities, enterprise and urban business, higher and further education, creative and digital, financial and professional, low carbon and renewable and maritime, logistics and energy.
UK Trade & Investment will also be hosting a number of sessions focussing on emerging markets including China, South East Asia, Latin America and India.
Secretary of State for Wales David Jones said:
We are in a global race and its vital that Welsh businesses set their sights on new overseas markets to boost trade, create jobs and attract new investment .
The International Festival of Business is a tremendous opportunity for businesses to do this and establish links with organisations from around the world and showcase the very best that Wales has to offer.
I would also urge businesses in Wales to contact UK Trade and Investment who can offer advice and in-depth support on how to export their products and expertise to new global markets.
The festival will run from 9th June to 22nd July 2014.