Swansea Bay Inter Trading Event 12 – 14 May 2004
Purpose of Report
To provide an update on the Inter Trading event, which took
place in Swansea Bay area from 12th to 14th May 2004, hosted by
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and City and County of
Swansea.
Background to the event
This project has evolved out of existing Edimar partnerships and
other Swansea Bay - led trading initiatives. Cork County approached
Swansea requesting that they be included in this initiative and as
a result Swansea approached Neath Port Talbot in terms of
developing a Swansea Bay approach, in recognition of our links with
Cork County and the diverse industry in Neath Port Talbot.
Carmarthenshire County Council has now become an active partner in
the initiative, and will be fully involved at the next event.
The first inter trading event for this European project was held
in Swansea, 20th – 24th November 2002, as a pilot event. Companies
from all 4 regions attended the event, representing a variety of
both manufacturing and service sectors. It was agreed that inter
trading events would be held annually, hosted by each of the
regions in turn, with at least 2 to be held in 2003. The first of
which was held in Sundsvall in May 2003, the second was held in
Cork in November 2003.
Aim
To develop business links between SMEs in the Swansea Bay area,
City and County of Cork, Sundsvall, Sweden and Århus in
Denmark.
The event
- Meetings
5 Swedish, 1 Danish and 5 Irish companies attended the event,
leading to a total of 65 arranged meetings. There were some last
minute cancellations from local companies resulting in 50 arranged
meetings.
- Actual business opportunities –
Swansea Bay May 2004
Despite the number of late cancellations, early indications point
to a high level of orders and business arrangements between the
regions.
- Hermangers Mekaniska (Sweden)
Appointed Manufactured Component Services Ltd as their UK
agent.
- Charter Nav (Ireland)
Have received a number of orders
- Esstrade (Sweden)
Have sent information to Welsh Quality Meats for orders of reindeer
heads and tails!
- Grabitech (Sweden)
Visited Hornbill (NPT) and cemented their relationship as their UK
agent.
Visits and events
- Thursday 13th May
Company meetings held in Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea
Formal dinner held in Castle Hotel, Neath
- Friday 14th May
Company meetings and site visits
Visits to Llandarcy Urban Village project and the Environment
Agency building (official opening of the new building)
Future Events
A memo of understanding was signed by all partners during the
Cork November 2003 event. During the steering group meeting in May
2004, a timetable of events until end of 2005 was agreed:
September 2004