Why Export?
Exporting can transform your business. Obvious benefits are more sales and greater profits – but trading internationally gives you many other competitive advantages. Responding to challenging markets brings greater flexibility, creativity and innovation, increased efficiencies, extended product life cycles, and risk is spread across several markets. Careful preparation is needed though. Ask yourself, am I geared up for a bigger market? Which should I tackle first? Are my products or services ready? Do I have the resources, and the 'know-how'? And what about shipping, regulations, taxes and import laws and so on?
Support to export
Learn more about your readiness to become an exporter through our informative flowchart.
Through our International Trade Development (ITD) programme we will work one-to-one with you to develop for example, your export strategy - select the market that is best for you, define your route to market, examine financial considerations, export procedures, regulations and logistics.
Developing capability to export / building resilience: International Trade Development (ITD) programme
One-to-one support from a contractor - can include help to develop an export strategy, identify and prioritise target markets; advice on routes to market, technical standards, paperwork, and logistics. Support is also available for more experienced exporters and we can help to be leaner / smarter in current markets as well as helping to identify new markets for products and services. This support is fully subsidised by Welsh Government.
Connecting with opportunities: Overseas Business Development Visit (OBDV) grant.
In addition to our overseas events programme, we have a grant that can help with the cost of exhibiting overseas and/or making business development visits to new markets. Companies must be able to demonstrate a need for the grant; must not have made a prior commitment (financial or otherwise) and must not be servicing an existing contract. You would pay 50% of the cost up to a max £10,000. In order to apply for this funding, you must have an Economic Contract agreement in place. Further information can be found below.
Overseas Events: Welsh Government Food Division exhibits at major international trade shows. Typically you would pay 40-50% of the cost. Our programme of overseas event includes for example FHA Singapore, Summer Fancy Food Show, and Gulfood.
Multi Sector Export Market Visits: Food and Drink companies are also eligible to participate in multi sector export market visits delivered by the wider Welsh Government Trade Team. Providing an opportunity to showcase your company, gain valuable contacts and build your exports. Their calendar of events can be found here: Calendar of events
Export Cluster: Membership group for like-minded food and drink companies engaged in export, typically 6-8 events organised per year, the ability to receive additional support opportunities unique to being a cluster member plus a chance to inform future support provision. The export cluster is free to join and can be done so here.
Export Hub: From exploring markets to trade compliance, from identifying potential clients to shipping documentation the Export Hub will be able to support you on your export journey. Below are just a few of the features and it is free to register:
- 180+ detailed country profiles
- 25,000 market reports
- 12,000 trade shows
- Databases containing more than 500,000 importers and suppliers.
- Guidelines, tools and tips checklists on finding counterparts, complying with trade regulations, calculating export costs.
More help from international trade bodies
Organisations like UK the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Food & Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) provide extra help to ensure success for businesses in global markets. DIT provides a free worldwide export leads service and a monthly online update of business opportunities in more than 100 global markets, and FDEA is a dedicated trade body whose membership of like-minded exporters share the benefits of extensive international business development experience.
