Global partnerships already worth seven figures

Within days of the end of this year's Royal Show UK firms were announcing news of export business deals around the globe already confirmed as being worth well into seven figures in total.

The orders were landed by companies who had taken space in the Global Partnerships Pavilion, organised by the new International Agriculture &Technology Centre, at the four-day show.

During the show visitors from 88 overseas countries registered at the pavilion. Between them they took part in more than 2,300 meetings resulting in the UK firms reporting over 800 serious leads.

One of the first deals will be worth £850,000 to Devon based Friend International who, jointly with UFAC from Suffolk, will provide feed for dairy herds in Saudi Arabia.

Potato Partners from Northern Ireland have been invited to take part in a project in Peru, while Peal Engineering from Lincolnshire are in serious discussions with potential new Egyptian customers.

Staffordshire based Blue Merle have agreed product tests in Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Syria and ULG Northumbrian anticipate orders from Mozambique.

Watercare Systems from Devon are confident of securing an order from Cameroon while Fionn Technology from Ulster have been offered the prospects of projects in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa.

Philippa David, director of the International Agriculture & Technology Centre, said, "The interest in the Global Partnerships pavilion was overwhelming. It clearly illustrates that the rest of the world still has a very high regard for British agri-technology and is anxious to do business.

"The response from the UK firms has also been terrific and they have demonstrated that we still have innovative skills and entrepreneurial drive.

"We are already developing plans for next year's show, but between now and then our job at the centre is to make sure that the excellent contacts that have been made are followed through and that real business is done."

The International Agriculture & Technology Centre is based at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. It is a joint venture between the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Trade Partners UK, the Royal

Agricultural Society of England and Advantage West Midlands.

The aim of the centre is to promote UK excellence in agri technology by being the first point of call for UK firms seeking overseas customers and partners and for foreign companies and organisations wanting to contact British enterprises.