Three innovative Bristol firms have been in India this week on an official trade delegation to meet new buyers, distributors and partners.
The firms – Motivation UK, which provides wheelchairs and services for disabled people in developing countries, independent production company Icon Films and kids’ travel accessories brand Trunki – were among eight businesses to spend five days in India.
They took part in a jam-packed schedule of meetings and events in Mumbai and Delhi to strike up new business deals.
In total, the organisers Ameeta Virk, India market specialist at Business West, and Siddharth Mukne, regional head, UK India Business Council (UKIBC), arranged more than 70 meetings during the trade mission.
The trip took place under the of Extend Your Global Reach initiative, a free support programme part funded by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by Business West.
Part of Export for Growth, it aims to help support South West businesses to access opportunities in the complex markets of Asia and Latin America.
India’s rapidly growing economy and leap forward in technology makes it a very different place than even 10 years ago.
The economy has doubled in size since 2003 and will overtake the UK in GDP this year.
Before taking part, Amanda Wilkinson, CEO of Motivation UK, a company providing wheelchairs for disabled people in developing countries, said: “The trip will provide an invaluable opportunity for us to explore potential new business opportunities, strengthen our brand in India and to cement important stakeholder relationships.”
Icon Films, which has more than 25 years’ experience working with major international broadcasters, was recently ranked at 32 in the Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track 100.
The firm was looking to share its content with new contacts, to explore co-production potential with Indian production companies and build relationships with organisations that have demonstrated strong corporate social and environmental responsibility.
Trunki, best known for its kid’s ride-on suitcase, wanted to learn more about the market and make connections with distributors and buyers. International sales manager Nancy West said: “We are currently exporting all over the world, but India remains our smallest market, despite its huge potential customer base.”
In addition to leading the high-profile market visit, Ameeta also directly represented a number of South West companies including Beyond the Bean, Original Style, Pulsin and Vivo-Life.
