Take advantage of construction sector opportunities in Poland

 The  Northern Ireland Chamber of Commercewith partners Handel Export Consulting is running an initiative to encourage local companies in the construction sector to consider business opportunities in Poland. The initiative is funded by Invest NI   The initiative is designed to give companies fast-track access to business contacts and opportunities in the Polish market and includes a market visit which will take place from the 26th – 30th October 2009. The initiative provides an excellent opportunity for companies to meet with potential customers and decision makers in their individual product or service sector. Poland is the only market in the EU which has not gone into recession and still maintains a rate of 1% growth.

According to the English language new portal in Poland, Polish Market Online, July construction output in Poland was higher by 10.7% y/y which was the best result recorded since August 2008. In the seven months to the end of July construction output was higher by 3.6% y/y. July saw acceleration in construction growth. Construction output was higher by over 10% compared with July 2008 indicating a possible imp[rovement in the situation in the construction market. In July 2009 growth was recorded in all types of construction, with an over 13% increase in civil engineering output including road building.

Opportunities exist in Poland for

• Architects
• Consulting engineers
• Project management companies
• Construction contractors
• Civil engineering
• Building materials
• Construction machinery
• Materials handling

Through the initiative Handel Export provides the following package of support:

• Market research on industry background and potential business partners
• Short listing of relevant contacts
• Setting up a detailed itinerary of meetings with appropriate contacts in Poland, (each company has their own itinerary of companies to meet with during the market visit)
• Translation of the company profile into Polish
• Company profile in Polish posted on the project website www.getworkeu.com
• Training workshop 1/2 day on how to develop successful business in Poland
• Pre-market v9isit briefing
• In-market publicity with relevant Trade Associations, business partners etc.
• Assistance with follow up after the market visit

Numerous local companies have already taken advantage of past initiatives, this is what they had to say about the assistance received:

“Handel Export reviewed the market and arranged meetings with a number of potential organisations with whom we could form an alliance. Without this advice and research, market entry would have been exceedingly difficult” Liam O’Hagan, Managing Director, Delap & Waller

“The programme was professionally planned by all parties. Meetings were informative and created opportunities and the language and travelling barriers were easily overcome. Generally we had a very successful time. Eamon O’Hare, Managing Director, O’Hare & McGovern

“I would definitely recommend the programme. It is an excellent value for money way to research new markets”. Michael Thompson, Managing Director, T&A Kernoghan

“The Poland programme was very beneficial; from the companies we were matched with we will establish a distributor in Poland”. Amanda Armstrong, McQuaid Engineering

The cost of the package of assistance is £800 plus VAT, the remainder being funded by Invest NI. Travel costs are additional but also benefit from grant assistance from Invest NI – 50% of flight costs plus £100 per night for hotel costs. Further details on participation and an application form can be obtained by contacting Suzanne Hill, Managing Director of Handel Export Consulting – Tel: 028 9092 3378 or info@NOSPAMhandelexport.com (remove NOSPAM before sending).