COMPANIES have high hopes of securing business in mainland Europe on the back of a highly successful trade mission to Germany.

Six firms from across Cumbria took part in the visit, organised by Business Link for Cumbria as part of a Trade Partners UK programme to boost exports.

The firms, all with little or no previous experience of exporting, were helped to set up meetings with potential customers in Germany and introduced to British Consulate officials working with would-be exporters.

One of the companies taking part in the mission was JP Interactive, a Kendal firm specialising in touch-screen technology which was looking to build on existing business connections with another part of Germany.

"We created many useful contacts and managed to fulfil some of the research required, especially in the real estate sector that were eluding us," said JP Interactive managing director managing director Mark Palacio.

As a result, he said, the company was asked to quote for creating touch-screen solutions for a BMW factory and a major holiday company and was able to discuss potential partnerships with a number of organisations.

Mr Palacio said the results would not have been possible without the help of the Business Link for Cumbria mission.

"The British Consulate got us all the warm leads which meant we were able to save a great deal of time in cold calls and being let down. Essentially we were straight in the door talking business."

He is now hoping to join a similar mission to Madrid later this year. "We have learned through this experience in Munich that there is a market out there for our products all created in Cumbria," he said.

John Wright, who runs Kendal-based Symbiosis management training and personal development, said joining the German trade mission had given him the opportunity to talk to potential customers who he would not have met otherwise.

"The true value to me will depend on whether I am able to maintain the contacts I made but that is my responsibility, and there is no reason why I should not be able to do so," he said.

Andrew Fawcett, a member of Business Link for Cumbria's international trade team who advises firms on exporting, said the mission was a great way to help firms make the contacts needed to start selling overseas.

"There are very many companies in Cumbria with great potential, bit it can be difficult taking the first step into exports," he said.

"Trade missions like this are a superb way of enabling firms to find out more about their potential market places and helping them to make vital initial contacts needed to move into exporting."

January 16, 2003 10:30