U.K. Manufacturers Seek to Forge New Partnerships

Launched in March 2001, The Marine Export Partnership (MEP) is a new initiative designed to assist British marine companies in their exporting efforts and to raise the profile of the British marine industry to potential overseas customers. The partnership was formed under the auspices of Trade Partners U.K. (part of the British government department for trade and industry) to encourage all sectors of the U.K. marine industry to work together to promote itself overseas. The initiative is being driven by the three main trade associations in the U.K.: The British Marine Equipment Council (BMEC); The British Marine Industries Federation (BMIF); and The Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association (SSA).

The initiative covers all sectors of the industry including shipbuilding and repair, marine equipment and engineering, leisure boating and ports, and terminal equipment. Though the marine business climate has been challenging in years, which the U.K. has some of the world's leading marine companies, many of which already export millions of dollars worth of goods and services each year. The partnership is designed to provide these companies with support and assistance to maintain their position in the continually changing global market place. The Marine Export Partnership aims to pull together the expertise and information needed to assist all U.K. marine companies in their exploits overseas. Since its launch earlier this year the MEP has been busy setting up a website to act as a marine sector focal point providing information on export opportunities, overseas events and market research as well as a database of British marine companies for overseas customers to access.

In order to promote British marine companies abroad, the MEP brand has already been used at a number of overseas events including Cruise Shipping in Miami; Norshipping in Oslo; TOC in Lisbon; Container Asia in Singapore; Sanctuary Cove Boat Show in Australia; and Pacific Sail Expo in California. A comprehensive British marine directory and CD-Rom will be available free of charge, to interested customers from British stands at future overseas events.

In addition to promoting the British marine industry overseas, MEP will also be arranging a number of training and networking events for British marine companies in order to assist and encourage them to start exporting or to exploit new overseas markets. Details of all these events can be found on the Marine Export Partnership website at www.ukmarinepartnership.com

A number of leaflets as well as the directory and CD Rom are available by contacting the MEP either by email on [email protected] or by telephoning on +44 (0) 2392 453351 or through the website at www.ukmarinepartnership.com