This is how it all started! The following article appeared in the Birmingham Post on October 3rd, 2007.

The following article appeared in the Institute of Asian Business "Asian Link", issue 21 on September 21st, 2007.

This article featured on the Government News Network website on September 14th, 2007.

Friday 14 September 2007 15:21
UK Trade & Investment (West Midlands)

Top tips for winning new business in the Gulf

More than 50 companies from the West Midlands picked up valuable advice to help them win their share of the US$1 trillion dollar projects market in the booming Gulf region.

The event, entitled Doing Business in the Gulf, took place earlier this week at West Bromwich Albion's Hawthorns Stadium.

It was organised by UK Trade & Investment's international trade team at Black Country Chamber of Commerce, who have formed the Black Country Middle East Business Centre for companies across the West Midlands that are seeking to trade with this part of the world.

Keynote speaker Nick McInnes, from UK Trade & Investment, described the current vast range of trade opportunities in the oil rich Middle East resulting from investments running into many billions of pounds.

Stewart Towe, MD and Roger French, group business director of Sandwell-based Queen's Award winners Hadley Group shared their experiences of establishing a subsidiary operation in Dubai 12 years ago, which has played a significant role in Hadley's fortunes increasing from a turnover of £1m in the early Eighties to in excess of £100m in 2006.

In anticipation that many UK exporters, especially women, are apprehensive about visiting the Middle East to seek out new business, UK Trade & Investment set aside a session to debunk some of the myths and uncertainties often cited as barriers to trade development.

Mrs Maha El Metwally, whose specialist Birmingham-based consultancy Cultural Bridges advises companies on Arabic protocol and etiquette, advised the delegates on some of the essential do's and don'ts of Arabic society.

From left: Terence Madkins (UK Trade & Investment), Nick McInnes (UK Trade & Investment), Maha El-Metwally (Cultural Bridges), Ian Morrisson (Export Market Research Scheme), Doug Mahoney (UK Trade & Investment), Stewart Towe (Hadley Group) Mike Hurley (former head of the commercial section at the British Embassy Kuwait & AL-Khobar, Saudi Arabia).

Delegates also learned about new internet-based initiatives that would enable Saudi Arabian women to start their own businesses without breaching traditional values.

UK Trade & Investment international trade adviser Terence Madkins, based at Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said: "In conservative societies such as Saudi Arabia where women are not yet permitted to drive cars, these initiatives are a huge step forward for aspiring businesswomen in the market, and provide opportunities for British women owner managers with similar interests."

At the event, the Black Country international trade team also launched a new dedicated website - http://www.middleeastbusiness.co.uk - specifically for companies from this region that are seeking to win business in the Middle East.