Partner Article

Turkish delighted as Chamber International launches new alliance to boost UK exports

A fourth strategic alliance has been agreed by overseas trade specialist, Chamber International, to help UK companies boost their exports after Brexit.

Seamless support for companies wishing to start, or enhance, their exports to Turkey will be available through Chamber International’s new partnership with British Chamber of Commerce Turkey (BCCT), based in Istanbul.

The alliance creates a far closer working relationship between the two organisations than usually exists within British Chambers of Commerce global network with a focus on fast- tracking UK exporters to BCCT advisers who will provide tailored support and advice.

Although a long-established export destination for UK companies, British Chamber of Commerce Turkey says the country still holds huge potential for UK businesses in its own right and as a stepping-stone to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets and central Asia.

BCCT chairman, Chris Gaunt, who has 30 years UK drinks industry experience in senior management positions with HP Bulmer and Allied Domecq and 15 years with Cocoa Cola, says: “ We are excited about this new alliance with Chamber International which creates strong joined-up support from Yorkshire to Istanbul to make UK companies’ exports to Turkey as friction and risk-free as possible.

“Our alliance provides an aligned set of values and services to enhance the export capabilities of Yorkshire companies requiring a head start in this dynamic and diverse market.

“Given Brexit’s unpredictable outcome and the potential disruption exporters will face, it is crucial to ensure UK companies gain this type of support to enable existing trading agreements to continue unhindered and new export opportunities and supply chains are identified so the UK does not lose its overseas market share with a damaging knock-on effect for British businesses and the wider economy.”

BCCT was the second overseas British chamber, established by a group of British businessmen in 1887 in the region that later became Turkey, after one set up in Paris in 1873.

During the last five years, BCCT has supported more than 2,000 UK companies. Among its services are providing market information and detailed, tailored market research reports, business partner searches for UK clients looking for distributors, agents or joint ventures, arranging meetings with potential partners and local marketing, including PR and event management.

During 2017-18, 60 per cent of BCCT support services were to sectors including food and beverage, healthcare and medical, business and consumer services, education and training, defence and security, energy, advanced manufacturing technology, and the construction supply chain.

The new strategic alliance, which is pioneering within the British chambers global business network, is the fourth set up by Chamber International in the last eight months, following those with British Business Centres, Dubai; Resolve, which targets North America, and Brazil Business Hub.

Chamber International director, Tim Bailey says: “The UK is second only to Germany in terms of Turkey’s largest trading partners and BCCT has an excellent team in place to support UK companies. We are keen to hear from companies in construction, design and innovation, defence and security, specialist textiles, fashion design and technology who are looking to sell to Turkey.”

Chamber International helps hundreds of new and experienced exporters throughout the UK with a wide range of specialist services to make exporting easier and more cost effective.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Clarke Communications .