US embassy plays Cupid for transatlantic trade
US government office looks to boost business by linking US and UK firms
A US government department is hoping to breathe some extra life into the UK technology scene by pairing up US firms with UK partners.
The US Commercial Service, based at the American embassy in London, has earmarked the UK as a key market for its clients, and has a number of opportunities in the pipeline in sectors such as data storage, wireless networking, business process management software, enterprise search software and network and data security.
It aims to introduce firms that have never worked in the UK before to potential partners including resellers, joint ventures, distributors or agents. The service will also facilitate meetings between interested UK firms and potential US partners.
According to figures released by the embassy, the UK is the US’s second-largest European export market and the fifth largest globally, with more than 40,000 US firms exporting to the UK.
Andrew Williams, commercial specialist at the service, told CRN that despite the current economic difficulties, the UK market is still highly attractive for US firms in IT and telecoms.
He said the main draw is that the UK is seen as an early adopter of new IT technologies.
“In 2009, we will be increasingly focused on providing support to US companies that are new to exporting, which should generate a growing number of business partnership enquiries in the UK,” he added.
Clive Longbottom, service director at analyst Quocirca welcomed the move, adding that the economy needs all the help it can get.
“Some resellers may be unsure of how to shift products and someone offering something new could inject a new lease of life into their business,” he said.
“There are vendors that do not operate in the UK that are looking for new markets. Having an organisation such as the US embassy in the middle helps to minimise the risk and add credibility,” he added.
To find out more about the US service visit http://www.buyusa.gov/home/