Attending trade fairs abroad, either as an exhibitor or a customer, can be an excellent way to test and open up foreign markets and find new suppliers.
If you're thinking of exhibiting, it's a good idea to make an exploratory visit first, in order to make contacts, do some research and see the competition. You should then be well placed to find the right fair and position your business effectively.
Getting help
Some obvious issues to consider are differences in language and legislation. More difficult to pin down are cultural aspects of doing business in other countries. Try getting information from the country's embassy in the UK, international Chambers of Commerce or foreign trade associations. You can read overseas sector reports on the UK Trade & Investment website.
Invest Northern Ireland can support local businesses to take part in overseas exhibitions. Find out about the support for selling outside Northern Ireland on the Invest NI website.
You can find out about tax in relation to exports on the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website.
