Member Article

Gateshead-based digital companies travel to Sweden to develop trade links

Digital companies in Gateshead are taking part in a trade mission to Sweden this week o explore new collaborative opportunities.

Part of an initiative between Gateshead Council and the Sunne Municipality in West Sweden’s Värmland region, Gateshead firms have joined the convoy to develop reciprocal trade and investment opportunities.

Supported by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), companies taking part in the trade mission to Sweden are ReciteMe, Climb Creative, Vector76 and DroneLabs.

The mission will reveal more about Värmland’s key industries: packaging, printing, tourism, forestry and engineering. Moreover, the trip will also include a meeting with Compare, the digital cluster of Värmland.

A number of Värmland’s digital technology companies have expressed an interest in participating in a market visit to Gateshead in early 2016. The project will allow Gateshead the opportunity to promote itself as business destination for Swedish companies operating in sectors complementary to those already present in the Borough.

Councillor Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, has signed a Commitment to Collaboration, on behalf of the Authority, which will be taken over to Sweden as part of the market visit, to be signed by the Director of Sunne Municipality.

The Commitment to Collaboration sets out the joint intentions of both authorities to work together to boost mutually beneficial trade and investment.

Councillor Henry said: “We have a thriving digital sector in Gateshead, with some of the most innovative companies in the UK based here. Through this collaboration, we want to help these businesses to expand internationally as well as bringing more inward investment to Gateshead.”

Caroline Theobald, Honorary Consul for Sweden and Chairman, North East Chapter, Swedish Chamber of Commerce said: “It is very gratifying to see that ‘Creative Links’ the partnership between West Sweden and the North East has borne fruit and is offering meaningful business opportunities to some of Gateshead’s most exciting digital companies.