Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

They recently returned from a market research visit to Shanghai and Guangzhou. Organised by UK Trade & Investment and the Essex Chamber of Commerce, the companies were able to look at the potential of exporting their products to China.

Although it was a short visit the companies had a full programme of meetings organised by UK Trade & Investment and the China Britain Business Council which allowed them to make some important contacts and three of the companies have already planned return visits.

Steve Clemenson from East Anglian Food Ingredients Ltd, Clacton on Sea, said: "The mission allowed us to gain invaluable knowledge of the developing Chinese market and the ability to evaluate the market potential.

"The local support offered by UK Trade & Investment was excellent and ensured that I met companies who should be able to introduce our products to the local market."

Martin Senior, international trade adviser with UK Trade & Investment, said: "Enabling companies to see first hand the opportunities available in this vast market has proved very valuable.

"The eight companies that visited China are expecting in excess of £200k of new business between them over the next 12 to 18 months.

"There is a lot of help and advice available to companies that are looking to develop business in this part of the world.

"One of the key things I have learnt from this visit is you can never know too much about a complex market like China."

Richard Wishart from Delivery Management Ltd in Hartford near Huntingdon said: "Not having to worry about the overall administrative arrangements for the visit allowed me to concentrate on the business meetings and it was useful to be able to talk through experiences of the trip with other members of the mission."

o For further information on the help and services provided by UK Trade & Investment, including trade visits, contact the International Trade Team at your local Business Link or visit the website, which is at: www.exporteastofengland.org.uk.