The Middle East Association will be hosting ‘Introducing the Kurdistan Market’ at Bury House on Wednesday 18th January, a market briefing ahead of our spring trade mission to Iraqi Kurdistan.

This event is free, although priority will be given to MEA Members.

Our panel will include senior representation from the Kurdistan Region Government and the Middle East Association, who will give market advice and inform you of the fantastic potential of the Kurdistan market. It will also be an excellent opportunity to raise any questions and queries you might have about investing in the region.

On the panel will be:
• David Lloyd, Mission Leader and Senior Consultant, Middle East Association
• Vian Rahman, Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the UK
• Carl Bruce, Senior Country Manager – Iraq, UK Trade & Investment
• Lyndsay Snowden, MEA Trade Missions Manager, CT Group Travel
• Kawa Besarani, Managing Director, Besarani Trading (Kurdish-British businessman)

This seminar will be of particular interest to those as yet unfamiliar with the Kurdistan region and those thinking of participating in the trade mission, although all are welcome.

The event will begin at 16.30 with Registration and Refreshments. Presentations will be from 17.00, followed by Q&A, lasting until about 18.30. To attend, please email your name, position, company, and reason for attending to chrism@the-mea.co.uk As this is a free event with a limited number of places, we recommend that you sign up as soon as possible.

We hope to see you on January 18th – and on the mission.

If you would like to pre-register your interest then please complete the form below :

A full prospectus detailing the full programme and costs will be e-mailed to you just as soon as it is available

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Uniglobe member CT Group Travel in partnership with the European Atlantic Trade and Investment Missions will be taking a trade mission to Panama on 20 – 25 March 2012.

The mission will be led by an MP and has the full support of the British Embassy, UKTI in Panama and the Embassy of Panama in the UK.

In recent years Panama has experienced an economic boom with an average growth rate of 8%, which has been primarily fuelled by the expansion of the Panama Canal and extensive infrastructure projects. Panama is also fortunate to be largely unaffected by the current global economic crises, and it is forecast it will continue to do so.

Panama is the logistics hub and global financial center in the Latin American region. It is a hot destination for foreign investment and the UK is the second largest investor in the country. UK exports to Panama were worth £149 million and imports were worth £12 million in 2008.

There are business opportunities in:

• Marine services (ship repair and maintenance, servicing of vessels, container and cargo services).
• Financial services, telecommunications, e-commerce, insurance and real estate.
• Procurement related to the Panama Canal (provisions, equipment, material construction and consulting).
• Provision of concessionary services to the ports (power, water, fuel, materials, food, banking services, telecommunications, repair and dredging).
• Logistics, cargo services, security consulting, education and training.

A recent high profile conference held in London called Panama Invest 2011 provided investors and decision makers from the main capitals of the world information regarding business opportunities in Panama.

CT Group Travel’s Missions Manager Lyndsay Snowden who attended the event commented, “The high numbers of delegates attending this event was a pleasant surprise, there were far more attendees than other similar events I’ve attended in the past. This confirmed just how much opportunity and interest there currently is in Panama and we’re confident our mission should attract a good number of participants”.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Panama trade mission should contact Lyndsay Snowden at CT Group Travel on 01892 673 435.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Uniglobe member CT Group Travel not only specialise in operating overseas trade missions, but are also expert conference organisers, as well as providing many businesses with corporate rewards schemes that are incentive travel based.

If you would like to pre-register your interest then please complete the form below :

A full prospectus detailing the full programme and costs will be e-mailed to you just as soon as it is available

Subscribe to Trade Missions

Are you interested in future Trade Missions? subscribe to our trade missions and we will send you details by email of new trade missions as they are launched.

Use this form to submit your details, you can unsubscribe and re-subscribe at any time.

Are you planning a Trade Mission? Click here

If you are planning your next conference or group booking we’d be glad to help with ideas and costings, we will provide you with a no obligation itinerary for your event… read more

Property Events, in conjunction with CT Group Travel, operate Property Shuttle, the only UK travel agency dedicated to servicing attendees of the MIPIM property market. This week see’s the launch of their new chartered flights to the MIPIM 2012 property conference, which takes place next year in Cannes, from 06 to 09 March 2012.

The MIPIM property market brings together the most influential players from all the major international property markets, offering attendees unrivalled access to the greatest number of high-calibre development projects worldwide. MIPIM is more than just an exhibition; the MIPIM property market provides a robust platform for business growth through partnerships, project assessment and market intelligence.

The MIPIM property market is ideally suited to those businesses involved in property development, building and construction, finance and investment, hotel, tourism and leisure sectors, plus the logistics and infrastructure industries.

Property Shuttle has chartered its own aircraft to transport those attending the event from the UK to France. The flights are departing from London Luton taking passengers to Nice (specific details below). Currently Property Shuttle has a special introductory offer of £499 per person, reduced from £549, which includes flights and return coach transfers from Nice to the passenger’s chosen hotel accommodation. However, attendees also have the option to pay extra for either helicopter or private car transfers to their chosen hotel should they wish.

Outbound flight: Depart London Luton 06 March 2012, 09:30, arrive Nice 12:30

Inbound flight: Depart Nice 09 March 2012, 10:30, arrive London Luton 11.40

Property Shuttle also offers a good selection of hotels suiting all budgets and tastes, attendees should contact Property Shuttle for further details, call 01892 673 426.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Uniglobe member CT Group Travel who part operate Property Shuttle not only specialise in chartering aircraft but are also expert conference organisers, as well as providing many businesses with corporate rewards schemes that are incentive travel based, as travel incentives for employees are proving to be a very popular way to motivate staff to hit company targets.

CT Group Travel in partnership with The Middle East Association has more experience in organising trade missions to the Middle East and North Africa than any other organisation.

The trade mission to Mauritania, which is situated in West Africa, will be the first delegation from the UK to visit the country. The trade mission will be led by an experienced Middle East Association mission leader, and subject to commitments; the mission will also be accompanied by Tim Morris, British Ambassador to Mauritania, based in Rabat, Morocco.

Mauritania is undergoing an extraction-driven economic recovery; subsequently the government has prioritised the attraction of foreign private investment and the privatisation of the economy. Mauritania exports an estimated 12 million tons of iron ore per annum, it is also has vast reserves of copper, phosphates and gypsum, as well as significant oil & gold deposits. In addition to extraction, Mauritania also holds great potential in power generation, water desalination, fishing, urban planning and other infrastructure projects.

The Middle East Association believes the trade mission will be of particular interest to those businesses involved in the following sectors: mining & extraction, construction & infrastructure, water & waste management, energy & environment, oil & gas, logistics and fishing.

The exact dates of the trade mission are being finalised, but is expected to be in the first quarter of 2012 and will be for 5 days.

Mission managers CT Group Travel recommend businesses who are interested in trading in overseas markets book themselves onto the official travel packages that they offer. This ensures not only a competitive price for the trip, but also means that the logistical arrangements of travelling to and within these countries are managed effectively. A further factor is of course that there is a clear purpose to the mission with the business meetings pre-arranged to ensure that delegates have the opportunity to discuss potential new business ventures.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Mauritania trade mission should contact Lyndsay Snowden at CT Group Travel on 01892 673 435.

Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Uniglobe member CT Group Travel not only specialise in operating overseas trade missions, but are also expert conference organisers, as well as providing many businesses with corporate rewards schemes that are incentive travel based, as travel incentives for employees are proving to be a very popular way to motivate staff to hit company targets.

Now in its 8th year, Opportunity Arabia is market leader in the UK, raising the profile of Saudi Arabia here. This year, we are also delighted to have the Saudi Committee for International Trade as our partner.
2011 has witnessed extraordinary change across the MENA Region. Every country has been affected by the changing scenery and none, to a greater or lesser extent, is immune. For all that, Saudi Arabia, swing producer in OPEC and a member of the G20, is a rock of stability. Politically influential both regionally and internationally, it has the largest economy in the MENA region, ever diversifying, and is the UK’s largest trading partner there.

Confirmed speakers so far include: Omar Bahlaiwa, Secretary General of the Saudi Committee for International Trade; Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, BAE Systems; Thamer Jan, Saudi British Bank; Leslie McCune, MD Chemical Management Resources; Geoff Fennah, Chairman British Business Association, Eastern Province. They, and others to be announced, will cover Economy: Finance; Business Practicalities; Education; Healthcare; Mining; and Infrastructure. There will be one or two case studies by British companies working in the Kingdom. We are particularly grateful to British Offset Office, our lead sponsor, for its continuing support. Other sponsors whose generosity we also acknowledge include: SABB; Tamimi; BAE Systems; Albinali; Zamil Offshore; and Kanoo.

If you would like to pre-register your interest then please complete the form below :

A full prospectus detailing the full programme and costs will be e-mailed to you just as soon as it is available

Subscribe to Trade Missions

Are you interested in future Trade Missions? subscribe to our trade missions and we will send you details by email of new trade missions as they are launched.

Use this form to submit your details, you can unsubscribe and re-subscribe at any time.

Are you planning a Trade Mission? Click here

If you are planning your next conference or group booking we’d be glad to help with ideas and costings, we will provide you with a no obligation itinerary for your event… read more

If you are interested in attending the London event please send an e-mail directly to trade@slhc-london.co.uk to obtain your invitation and please ensure that you mention ‘Pathfinder’ when registering.

To download the flyer for this event then please click here.

Trade missions and incentive travel specialist CT Group Travel has published the next series of trade missions it will operate between now and the end of May 2012.

Out of 35 trade missions, the majority will still operate to CT Group Travel’s core regions of the Middle East and Asia. However, the company has identified four new high growth emerging markets which it will send four new dedicated trade missions to.

The new trade mission destinations will be Crimea, Nigeria, Angola and a joint mission to Argentina and Peru.

The new missions will operate on the following dates:

• Crimea – 03 to 09 October 2011
• Nigeria – 16 to 20 October 2011
• Argentina/Peru – 28 January to 04 February 2012
• Angola – 11 to 17 May 2012

Trade Missions are a fantastic way for businesses to research and meet potential trading partners in new geographic areas they have not operated in before, and travelling as part of an organised CT Group Travel trade mission certainly helps businesses cut to the chase in receiving good quality introductions to the local business community.

Each mission is meticulously researched and planned. Through working with various mission sponsors both in the UK and in the country to be visited, a brief is created of the mission’s purpose, which is then circulated to the marketplace so meetings are secured with relevant companies who have expressed an interest in meeting those companies attending.

Every trade mission has a mission leader who is both fluent in the local language and has an in-depth knowledge of the region being visited and its local customs, and they are available to assist mission members throughout the trip. In addition to the mission leader, many trade missions are often accompanied by a VIP or Parliamentarian figure that has direct involvement in the country or region being visited. This adds huge credibility to the trips and can open many doors, opportunities that would not be available to businesses travelling independently.

UNIGLOBE member CT Group Travel are also specialist conference organisers, providing conference management services worldwide. In addition the company operates many successful corporate rewards schemes; travel incentives for employees are proving to be a very popular way to motivate staff to hit company targets, especially when there are free flight tickets or paid overseas holidays being offered.

For more information concerning CT Group Travel’s services please call +44 (0) 1892 673 427.

If you would like to pre-register your interest then please complete the form below :

A full prospectus detailing the full programme and costs will be e-mailed to you just as soon as it is available

Subscribe to Trade Missions

Are you interested in future Trade Missions? subscribe to our trade missions and we will send you details by email of new trade missions as they are launched.

Use this form to submit your details, you can unsubscribe and re-subscribe at any time.

Are you planning a Trade Mission? Click here

If you are planning your next conference or group booking we’d be glad to help with ideas and costings, we will provide you with a no obligation itinerary for your event… read more