With some of them having avoided the worst of the economic crisis, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) hold considerable potential for UK exporters, according to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).
Over the last 10 years, UK exports of goods and services to the region have more than doubled, from £6 billion in 2000 to £14 billion in 2010. The UK’s business with the region continues to hold up strongly, despite ongoing instability in the eurozone, with exports of goods to Eastern Europe up by 33% over 2011.
A busy programme of events over the year can be tracked by way of UKTI’s forward calendar, which offers opportunities to engage with expert sources of information and advice both in the UK and overseas.
On 29 March, for example, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host “Doing Business in the CEE – an overview of regional export opportunities” while, on the next day, British Water will present “Water and environment sector opportunities in the CEE”.
Ambassadors from across the CEE region will return to the UK at the beginning of May with a business briefing/networking event, to be announced shortly, and the Lord Mayor of London will be taking a City of London delegation to Croatia and Slovenia in June.
