North East firms visit India to expand markets

North East companies are making a passage to India this week in the hope that they will break into the country’s chemicals market.

The group of 25 delegates, all from regional companies and organisations, will attend the 6th Annual India Chemical Industry Outlook Conference in Mumbai this week.

The NECC is forming part of a delegatation of businesses which has been pulled together by the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) as part of the region’s ongoing focus on the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) nations.

The event offers a global overview of the chemical process industry with the main theme being – Vision for the Chemical Industry: Future Challenges and Opportunities for Growth.

The conference will also focus on innovation and sustainability strategies, growth enablers, challenges and opportunities by sector.

NEPIC has assisted the Indian Chemical Council in organising the event, which is being held in the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai in the 7th and 8th March.

NECC International Trade Manager, Brian Dakers, will use the trip to link up with the Bombay Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Confederation of Indian Industry, bolstering regional links with one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Mr Dakers said: “The Indian market offers a great deal of opportunity to regional business.

“It is essential that the North East is represented at events like this to showcase our excellence and depth of experience in not only the process industry, but across all business sectors.

“Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent visit underlines the importance of the market.

“The main purpose of our visit is to create links useful to business, through the utilisation of the worldwide Chamber of Commerce network.”

“Alongside our partners UKTI and NEPIC, NECC will be championing our businesses overseas and will continue to do everything we can to ensure the North East remains competitive in the global marketplace and continues to lead the rest of the country in export performance.

“This conference comes at a perfect time, with the NECC having recently launched a project to help companies capitalise on the development potential markets such as India provide.

“I look forward to meeting my counterparts, and creating relationships that will benefit the region.”

The conference will provide collaborative, global networking and business development opportunities as well as round table discussions, panel debates and an exhibition.

Thirty European companies are registered, along with many from other continents and a host of significant Indian chemical organisations.