Boat and super yacht builders from all over the world are sailing into the UK in January to meet British suppliers in a GDP-boosting initiative by the Government.

The event is part of a wider initiative by the Government to create a £25 billion marine industry in the UK by 2020.

This is the 12th successive year that UK Trade & Investment and the British Marine Federation will have brought buyers over for one-to-one meetings with UK suppliers. The Tullett Prebon London Boat Show is host venue for the summit.

The marine ‘Meet the Buyer’ event offers a safe voyage to export markets and is being staged alongside the boat show at the ExCel centre in Docklands on January 10 and 11.

Last year’s event involved 18 overseas buyers and 64 UK suppliers, resulting in more than 435 one-to-one meetings – a record for the event – and significant levels of new business. In a survey of the UK suppliers who took part, the 38 companies that responded expected their meetings to generate business worth a total of £1.5 million.

Already, six global buyers have signed up – Bavaria Yachts (Germany), Dufour Yachts (France), Cyrus Yachts (Turkey), Nautor Swan (Finland), Lurssen (Germany) and Baltic Yachts (Finland).

Boat – and especially super yacht – building is big business. As an example, Roman Abramovich's yacht Eclipse is the largest and most expensive superyacht ever built. At a reported cost of over £700 million and with a crew of up to 60, it is a giant of the sea. Eclipse is the fourth superyacht comissioned by Abramovich.

At a time of global economic downturn, the industry offers calmer waters for UK exports – a fact appreciated by Peter Edwards, chief executive of marine industry supplier, A.S.A.P Supplies, based in Beccles on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.

He said: “Meet the Buyer is a very cost-effective way of meeting potential buyers. It’s a way of doing global business without having to travel far.

“And it’s not just about the formal meetings, it’s also the informal networking opportunities  which provide the chance to talk business in a relaxed environment and which can lead to a positive outcome. We will certainly be there in January.”

From the buyer’s side, Michelangelo Casadei, of Italy’s Ferretti Group, said: “I would express great satisfaction with the ‘Meet the Buyer 2011’ event, for many reasons: the chance to meet new suppliers (much better and more in-depth than normally possible at large shows); the opportunity to know the UK supply market better; and the open networking with colleagues from other companies. Excellent organisation and a great location complete the picture.”

The potential economic benefits to the UK were spelled out by Christopher Uniacke, UKTI South East’s international trade adviser for marine, said: “The UK leisure marine industry employs 32,500 people and generates sales of £2.9 billion per year, including around £1.15 billion in exports, with global customers for our innovative technology and equipment.

“The opportunity ‘Meet the Buyer” gives UK suppliers to talk face-to-face with major international buyers is too good to miss.”

If you are a supplier of marine products or services interested in booking a meeting with an overseas buyer at the Tullett Prebon London  Boat Show, details of the 2012 event, including a list of buyers who have agreed to attend so far, can be found at www.bmfmeetthebuyer.co.uk

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills recently announced a new strategy for the marine and maritime industries that could result in sector growth of up to £8 billion. Under the plan, the commercial, leisure and naval industries will be brought together under one banner to drive exports, increase skills and attract investment.

Drawing on the thinking of business, Government and academia, the Marine Industries Growth Strategy (MIGS) is the first integrated UK strategy for the marine industries and, if properly implemented, could lead to a £25 billion marine industry by 2020.