The Inward Buyer Mission organised by UKTI South East will bring 20 key decision makers from major international companies to meet UK suppliers at Seawork. The buyers (representing port authorities, equipment distributors, vessel operators and shipyards, among others) will have a pre-arranged schedule of meetings, based on 30-minute slots – and it’s not too late to take part.

The visiting companies are interested in a vast range of marine equipment and services, including engines and propulsion systems; generator equipment; lifting gear and hydraulic deck equipment; marine electronics; security and surveillance systems; paints and coatings; vessel design and naval architecture; safety equipment; renewable energy; ropes; pollution control; waste management; dredging; hydrography; and recruitment and training, finance, insurance and legal services.

The inward mission follows the successful event at Seawork last year, when over £500,000 worth of business was won by British companies as a result of initial contacts (the eventual figure may be much higher). Endorsements of the event from suppliers included comments such as: “Excellent. I accomplished a month’s work in just two days!”; and “It enables you to see many buyers in one day that would otherwise take weeks of travelling.” British companies already signed up for buyer meetings include B. Hepworth, Candock, Eazychem, Fischer Panda UK, Impalloy, Kent Modular Electronics, Marine Track, Tideland Signal, Tiflex, Ultra Dynamics, Wave International, and XJF Plastics.