A DELEGATION of 115 of chartered accountants form the north fly to Barcelona this week for a conference examining the business links between Spain and Northern Ireland, and the impact of cultural differences on business development and market expansion.
The ‘Commerce Meets Culture’ conference in Barcelona, organised by Chartered Accountants Ulster Society and supported by Danske Bank, takes place from Thursday to Sunday and will feature a range of speakers on the themes of business development, innovation, market entry and the potential impact of the EU Referendum.
Speakers include Jose Melchor of Ferrovial; Lewis McNeice, an export and marketing consultant working in Spain; João Lacerda of Randox Laboratories; and Lars Christensen, international economist, author and blogger.
Dawn Johnston, chair of Chartered Accountants Ulster Society (www.charteredaccountants.ie/ulster), said: “The conference will examine how Northern Ireland can encourage exporters, develop new business opportunities through foreign direct investment and drive our local economy.
“We will be looking at examples of Northern Ireland companies such as Randox Laboratories which are finding success in Spain, and the experience of companies such as Ferrovial which have chosen to operate in Northern Ireland.
“The event will highlight the opportunities and challenges for businesses looking to expand into Europe and we’ll examine some of the key lessons of companies which have already tested those international markets."
