SME exporters in London have been promised a boost in growth opportunities in a ‘go global’ initiative creating three new trade missions.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has confirmed the creation of new trade missions to the US, China and Hong Kong.

It’s part of London’s Export Programme, which has been set up to help SMEs to overseas markets or help those already trading move into fast growing emerging markets.

These missions follow the Mayor’s trade mission to the east coast of the US earlier this month when 41 small businesses, including cyber intelligence company Digital Shadows, which secured an £8M investment while on the trip.

Fintech firm Remitia have also announced that following their participation in the mission, its future order book now stands at $15Bn in supplier instant payments.

New trade missions confirmed were:

• A China Marketing and Strategy Mission in partnership with KPMG (11-15 May 2015). This will provide ‘a mini marketing MBA’ at Fudan university in Shanghai to help London businesses understand how to do business in a rapidly growing economy overseas.
• A mission to Philadelphia (14-18 June 2015) that will enable small businesses in London’s burgeoning medical and life science sector to attend the world’s biggest bioscience convention.
• A mission to Hong Kong and Macau (4-9 July 2015) that will offer businesses the chance to build on their regeneration and technology expertise in Asia.

The Initiative was first set up to help American cities develop their export strategies and today’s event will bring cities from around the UK together with representatives of cities from the United States to discuss forming new trade partnerships.

Marek Gootman, director of strategic partnerships and global initiatives at the Brookings Institution said: “London already is the world’s most international city but its continued vitality and job creation depends on strengthening its global economic connections and competitiveness. Joining the Global Cities Initiative will provide London with new data, best practices, policy ideas, and direct trading relationships with US counterparts.”

Applications are now open for the Mayor of London’s Export Programme missions to the USA, China and Hong Kong/Macau. Further details can be found at: https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/business-economy/for-business/trade-missions