International Festival for Business showcased
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trade & Investment met this week to raise awareness of the role this year’s International Festival for Business 2016 (IFB2016) will play in promoting British industry overseas.
The reception provided an overview of how the three-week series of events will help increase UK exports, drive economic growth and attract inward investment.
IFB2016 champions addressed a varied audience of more than 100 influential and international business leaders and parliamentarians, including embassy representations from more than 30 nations.
Paul Lindley, IFB2016 ambassador and founder and chairman of baby food brand Ella’s Kitchen, delivered an inspiring keynote address, providing an entrepreneur’s perspective of the benefits IFB2016 will bring to UK businesses seeking to expand globally.
This summer’s festival follows the success of the inaugural International Festival for Business in 2014, which produced more than £200 million of new investment deals and export sales totalling more than £80 million as a direct result of introductions and connections facilitated by the event.
As a global showcase for great British industries and an international hub for developing trade and export deals, IFB2016 is the world’s biggest business festival and a key date in both the UK and international business calendars. It will focus on three key sectors that are transforming the business landscape of Britain and beyond: manufacturing; creative and digital; and energy and environment.
Lindley says, “For businesses today, ‘brand Britain’ is one of the most valuable trading assets. With the help of UKTI, we can be bold about exporting and entering new markets where British brands are viewed at a premium.
“It is great to see such strong government support for businesses looking to expand internationally – IFB2016 is just one example of this and highlights our strength as a great trading nation.
“The festival will help businesses to meet the right investors and suppliers through networking opportunities, valuable advice and will ultimately secure trade deals to successfully expand into new territories.”
