This article was published before we became the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade on 10 July 2024, and this is reflected in references to our old brand and name. For more information about us becoming Chartered, visit our dedicated webpage on the change here.

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This May’s Going Global Live is almost upon us but what is particularly eye catching about the upcoming iteration is the diverse range of speakers lined up to give insights and practical advice to attendees looking at the exporting opportunity in 2017.

Going Global is Europe’s leading show for businesses that are looking to expand internationally, export products or set up overseas operations. It’s therefore unsurprising that the main focus of the presentations is Brexit with Dr Michael Gasorek from InterAnalysis, Paul Plewman from CurrencyTransfer.co and our very own Director General and keynote speaker Lesley Batchelor addressing the topic.

But, as Open to Export have revealed in their build up to the show, there are plenty of speakers speaking positively about opportunities in markets both inside and beyond the trade bloc.

Looking beyond the EU

Beyond the EU, there are speakers addressing the opportunities in markets such as China, Latin America, Africa and more.

Max Coleman from the UK ASEAN Business Council is one of the headline speakers and he will be talking about the opportunities in the rapidly developing ASEAN region. UKABC have noted though, that while there are opportunities, there are no guarantees of commercial success.

UKABC told Open to Export: “The UK enjoys shared histories with some of ASEAN’s markets, but this is no guarantee of future commercial success. ASEAN customers want innovative, quality products and this is where UK companies can excel. ‘Brand Britain’ has never been stronger in ASEAN, with the Union Flag seen as a mark of excellence on products ranging from fashion accessories to cars.”

Opportunities within EU markets

The line up also offers optimism about the UK’s prospects exporting within EU markets, with speakers from France and Germany among others.

We understand that Patrick Maupard from Maupard Fiducaire, an international business advisory and accounting firm helping UK SMEs sell into France, will be giving tips to help UK SMEs combat the challenges of entering the French market.

Maupard Fiducaire told us: “We will focus on the challenges associated with entering the French market and ways to combat them in order to truly profit from what France has to offer. During the talk, Patrick will provide niche and useful insights for British entrepreneurs and analysis with regard to investing in France. As a significant player in the Eurozone and a major hub for the rest of Europe, insights into how to approach starting up in France could be the next step for many SMEs looking to expand overseas.”

Not just talking about Brexit

The show doesn’t just focus on Brexit, however, with speakers discussing all aspects of exporting. Emil Strickland from Thrive Digital told Open to Export that in his ecommerce presentation he will be talking about ‘developing trust, as this is key to generating sales in cross-border ecommerce’.

Meanwhile, Andy Attwood from EMS Cargo will be drawing on 35 years experience in the freighting industry to talk about ‘the main differences between independent and multinational freight forwarders’.

It is evident that this year’s Going Global, while maintaining a keen focus on the potential impact of Brexit on UK exports, continues to offer a diverse range of speakers covering all the key aspects of what it takes for UK businesses to truly take their next steps towards global expansion.

More info 

To find out more about Going Global and to register for your free ticket, visit the website.