Master Cutler leads successful Trade Mission to Dubai

This month the Master Cutler, Richard Edwards, led a highly successful Trade Mission to Dubai.

Organised under the auspices of the International Trade Forum (ITF), the party of 12 included ITF chairman William Beckett, the Immediate Past Master Craig McKay, ITF Director Peter Edwards and Charles Turner, managing director of Durham Duplex.

“With the uncertainty of our European export markets looming large, we felt it was important for the Sheffield City Region to explore new avenues for our manufacturing industry,” said the Master.

“We had every expectation that our visit would give Sheffield City Region companies excellent opportunities to open-up trade links and expand their markets and so it proved to be.

“Several companies took orders there and then and all made excellent contacts. Indeed, before we set out, Ken Torres, managing director of Torres Pumps made contact with the international oil field services company Weatherfords in Dubai, to discuss a contract for the supply of high pressure pumps.”

The multi-sector mission’s main aim was to seek opportunities associated with Expo 2020, which Dubai is staging. To that end delegates attended a presentation at the British Centres for Business in which the services and facilities offered by Expo were highlighted.

ITF chairman William Beckett said: “That presentation gave us an understanding of their research and introductory services, which are far more extensive than those offered by traditional British embassies and chambers of commerce in foreign markets.”

Mission delegates also visited the Polypipe Technical Centre. The Doncaster-based company established themselves in the UAE some years ago. “That visit gave us an excellent insight into how business is conducted in the Middle East,” said Mr Beckett.

“The hospitality and interest in supporting the companies on our mission was exemplary and reinforced the benefit of going as a group which organises such meetings. Of equal importance was the networking and support from fellow travellers which for many was a steep learning curve in entering such an exciting market,” he added.