THE Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry has launched a new international division to service businesses in a post-Brexit business environment.
The division, which will be headed up by the Chamber’s head of international & SME development Tanya Anderson, is an evolution of the organisation’s current offering to ensure it delivers enhanced services to members to meet their business needs and practically facilitate their growth.
Supported by the Chamber's 'international champions' A&L Goodbody, Grant Thornton and Queen’s University, the division will provide practical business support, expert guidance and the opportunity for peer learning and connections for member businesses.
It will also assist members in planning for the potential implications of Brexit, and will host collaborative forums for established exporters and focussed workshops for new exporters.
Chamber president John Healy said: “The suite of services provided by this international division recognise the commitment from the Chamber and its international champions to assist local companies with entry and expansion into global markets.
“As well as our national reach, we maintain strong relationships with Chambers, trade bodies and businesses overseas. Such relationships enable us to inform local businesses on trade opportunities available, support them with their international growth strategies and connect them with markets globally.”
The new suite of international services join the Chamber’s current export documentation service, which provides exporters with all the documentation required to get their goods to market.
Mark Thompson, partner at A&L Goodbody said: “While increasing exports has always been important for the growth of the economy, the implications of Brexit means it is more crucial than ever to develop export capabilities. Local companies must continue to focus on deepening and diversifying their export base through R&D and innovation.”
Peter Legge, tax partner at Grant Thornton, said: “We are passionate about supporting local businesses to grow globally so that they can compete and succeed in their chosen international markets.
“Internationally we have over 53,000 people in over 130 countries and can draw on our local knowledge, national expertise and global presence to help businesses at whatever stage of the journey they are at and wherever they are located.”
And Isabel Jennings at Queen’s, which is at the forefront of developing new thinking and technologies in key areas such as health, reconciliation, peace and justice, information technology, food security, and energy, said: “The unique and positive impact of Queen’s locally and globally is well recognised and by working in partnership with the business community we are poised for considerable success and growth.”
