News

UKTI and London Mayor target support for SME’s in Urban Innovation & Smart Cities

Trade missions to Hong Kong and Macau and to Mexico City this summer to provide business support for London-based SMEs.

UKTI Trade missions

Government export advisor UKTI has joined with the London Mayor’s Export Programme to focus business support in the Urban Innovation & Smart Cities sector overseas with two trade missions aimed towards the infrastructure sector this summer.

The trade missions, to Hong Kong and Macau in July and to Mexico City in September, are part of the Mayor of London’s Export Programme and are aimed at London-based SMEs.

For details of the ACE Intermatonal Conference, programme and speakers and to book your place at the event on 20 May, visit the International Conference website at www.ace-international-conference.co.uk

Both missions will be led by UKTI senior international trade adviser, Malcolm Cohen who will give  a keynote presentation and be available to advise SME’s at next week’s ACE international conference for which tickets are still available.

Registration for the Hong Kong and Macau trip closes this Friday 15 May. The visit offers UK businesses the chance to explore smart city and urban-related opportunities in Asia. Hong Kong and Macau are both special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China.

As one of the most densely populated places in the world, Hong Kong faces particular urban development and smart city challenges such as increasing traffic congestion and limited housing stock. In response Hong Kong plans to establish an intelligent physical infrastructure as well as a modern digital infrastructure.

Similarly Macau, the other special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, presents a wide range of business opportunities to UK companies, including architecture, design and hotel fit-out.

The deadline for applying for the Mexico City visit is Friday, 19 June and offers UK businesses the chance to explore the ‘smart city’ and urban-related opportunities that this fast growing Central American market can offer.

In Mexico, as in many emerging markets, the urban population is growing rapidly and Mexican cities are facing many economic, social and environmental challenges in supporting a high quality of life for its citizens. 

The Hong Kong/Macau visit is 4-9 July; the Mexico City visit is 6-10 September. To register for the market visits or receive further information, contact: UK Trade & Investment London missions@uktilondon.

To address this, the Mexican Federal Government has launched a National Urban Development Plan. The Plan includes the creation of a national strategy for sustainable urban mobility, integration of urban transportation and new projects to improve intermodal mobility. 

The Mayor’s Export Programme delivered in partnership with UKTI and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), seeks to increase the number of London’s SMEs trading internationally by providing them with the requisite expertise, support and funding to start trading in new markets

Accommodation costs (total 4 nights) for both trips will be covered by the Mayor’s Export Programme. Flight costs will be covered by delegates. Companies are required to pay an administration fee of £250 (+VAT) to attend.

Small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs), based within one of London’s 33 boroughs, are eligibable to attend with little or no exporting experience. An SME company is defined as having an annual turnover of less than £40M and fewer than 250 employees.

The Hong Kong/Macau visit is 4-9 July; the Mexico City visit is 6-10 September.

To register for the market visits or receive further information, please contact: UK Trade & Investment London missions@uktilondon.

If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.