G ROW I N G YO U R BUS I N E SS
The benefits of commercial diplomacy & Trade missions Cork Chamber receives official ambassadorial visits and international delegations on a regular basis Specifically, we see that company missions/international visits for small groups of businesses (inbound and outbound) are a key element of commercial diplomacy and a strategic instrument of governments and business representative organisations to promote their home country abroad, as well as to support firms to explore and enter new markets. Understandably, many SMEs feel unready to venture into a new market without making an overseas visit first. However, one of the best ways to explore opportunities in international markets is to take part in trade missions as part of a well-organised group of likeminded people. Joining a company mission or meeting a visiting delegation at Cork Chamber, offers a company a fact-finding opportunity and a chance to build up a fuller understanding of a country as a possible market. These missions are generally open to businesses of all sizes including SMEs and start-ups. Additionally, local government and other agencies with
international ambitions can join a company mission to help make international connections. Organised missions may also benefit from partial subsidy through support from state agencies. Typically, structured mission programmes take place over a two day period and participants can learn about doing business in the host market and gain exposure to the social and business cultures. Unique opportunities and benefits for companies participating in a company mission include: • Business-to-business meetings with potential business partners • Growth of your international network • Better idea of market opportunities • Knowledge exchange • Market intelligence and troubleshooting • Raising your company profile • Identification of on-the-ground support of trade development organisations
Conor Healy, CEO Cork Chamber and Suzanne Drisdelle, Senior Trade Commissioner and Chargée d’Affaires at the Embassy of Canada to Ireland on a recent visit to Cork Chamber
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Potential access to economic and government decision-makers Networking opportunities with the local business community Opportunities to create partnerships.
Whether your business is already trading internationally, or is planning to do so in the future, tailor-made missions can lead to many successful partnerships thanks to thorough preparation, local knowledge, programme design and careful follow up.
Maltese mission to Cork 9-10 December 2019
The new flight route between Cork and Valletta, Malta has opened up valuable opportunities for trade and relationship building between the two islands. Enterprise Europe Network is the world’s largest support network for SMEs and combines international business expertise with local knowledge to help you take your innovation into new markets. Cork Chamber is connected to a network of more than 60 countries worldwide, bringing 3,000 experts from more than 600 member organisations throughout the world. For expressions of interest in relation to trade missions contact: mkelly@corkchamber.ie
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In December, the Malta Business Bureau (MBB) is bringing a delegation of businesses in the ICT sector (AI, IoT, ICT, Blockchain and Finserv) to connect with leading cluster organisations and companies in the Cork region. The delegation specifically wish to meet companies interested in support services for digital transformation, business process management, software development and web design across a number of sectors. Through a tailored programme of meetings and events over the course of two days the Enterprise Europe Network and Cork Chamber hope to facilitate business partnering and collaboration
opportunities across geographies and sectors. To find out more and to express your interest in meeting the visiting group of companies, contact Margaret Kelly: e: mkelly@corkchamber.ie t: 021 4509044