BSIA: Successful Meet the Buyers event breaks a record

BSIA: Successful Meet the Buyers event breaks a record

BSIA: Successful Meet the Buyers event breaks a record

This year’s well-attended Meet the Buyers event held at IFSEC 2010 was a great success securing a record number of meetings between UK companies and overseas buyers, says the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).

The event is organised by the BSIA in partnership with UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) and International Trade Promotion Centre and has been running at IFSEC for four years. It works on a ‘speed networking’ basis offering one-to-one introductory meetings for UK companies to present their products and services to oversea security buyers.

Caroline Strickley, BSIA Export Services Executive who is responsible for the co-ordination of Meet the Buyers, comments: “Over the years Meet the Buyers has introduced UK businesses to more than 1,200 overseas buyers, which has resulted in almost £10 million worth of predicted sales. It is an extremely popular event with IFSEC UK exhibitors and BSIA members and this year’s success reflects just that.

“A record-breaking 722 meetings were arranged for this year’s Meet the Buyers, which saw 125 overseas buyers and commercial officers attend from countries as diverse as Bosnia, Iraq and Tanzania. This impressive number of meetings demonstrates how highly the event is regarded by UK companies and overseas buyers. As well as welcoming new faces this year we also saw many companies and buyers who return year on year without fail because Meet the Buyers offers such a valuable busisness opportunity.”

At the event, Andrew Knights, Managing Director of Selectamark Plc, commented: “I’ve been coming to Meet the Buyers for all of the years that it has been running. The event is an effective way of seeing potential customers from a number of different countries and serves as a great way to get your name out there to an international audience and make contact with a range of buyers.”

Alma Kadunic, UKTI Trade and Investment Manager at the British Embassy, Sarajevo, added: “It is my first time at Meet the Buyers and I was not sure what to expect. However, it far exceeds my expectations. Through the event I have managed to make many contacts that we will be developing further. UK goods and services are known for their quality, which is something that is very important so making the contact with UK businesses is essential. Meet the Buyers is a fantastic way to do this and the meetings I had were productive.”

To learn more about the BSIA’s Export Council and Meet the Buyers, visit www.bsia.co.uk/exporting.

Editors Notes
The British Security Industry Association is the trade association covering all aspects of the professional security industry in the UK. Its members provide over 70% of UK security products and services and adhere to strict quality standards. For more information see www.bsia.co.uk, email info@bsia.co.uk or telephone 0845 389 3889.

Press contacts:
Amanda Beesley on 0845 389 0755
Kate Holland on 0845 389 0741