Chamber help to grow into new markets

“While the UK has the second largest share of GDP in Europe (World Bank) we still need to explore new markets to grow, as trade barrier problems persist with trade to and from the EU. This issue is continually, highlighted by our members. To help, the Chamber is hosting regular country focussed International Trade seminars, most recently on Morrocco and India”. said Alan Rides West London Chambers CEO

Morrocco

The first of these held was a Trade with Morocco event held on 17th April which focused on the agriculture sector, the event was attended by forty companies and the Moroccan Embassy.

India

On 20th April we hosted a Trade with India event as requested by UK India Business Council, ahead of the UK/India FTA which is due to be agreed next year.

Since the UK and Morocco signed a trade agreement in 2018, trade has increased dramatically, up 53% last year with Fruit and Veg making up one third of all Moroccan exports to the UK, meaning that 37% of all tomatoes sold in the UK are from Morocco. These products are mostly imported, into Western International Market in Hounslow and then distributed around the UK.

With UK exports to India rising this year by 47% to just under £9bn, making what is now the world’s most populous country and our 12th most significant export market.

Speakers were welcomed by Alan Rides Chamber CEO plus the Moroccan Embassy and included Mehdi El Alami from Foodex Morocco plus Hajar Chmantihouar from the Moroccan Agricultural Development Agency. Supporting speakers were from Tangier Line, Natwest Bank and UK Export Finance

The event was sponsored by MTXpress now rebranded as Spring FX, hosted by Alan Rides Chamber CEO, and opened by Ruth Cadbury MP Shadow International Trade team. To understand this huge market more, we assembled the following speakers both locally and from India to talk about their experiences: - UKIBC, HSBC London India Desk manager, HSBC Mumbai, Exalt IP Pryor, Radanks, Shayana Farm, Yogis Ayurveda and Russell Finex Ltd.