Economic Powerhouses: Good morning Vietnam!

The Vietnamese economy is wide-awake and ready for business. In the last decade the GDP has doubled, the annual growth rate has averaged 7.2% and increased foreign investment has created an economy boom.

Five countries UK energy companies can plug in to

The UK is renowned for its innovation skills across the energy sub-sectors, making UK companies an attractive investor into new opportunities overseas to expand their business. By 2030 the UKTI predicts revenue from domestic and international business will rise to £200 billion.

The Olympics are big business for UK companies. It is estimated that the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be worth approximately £21 billion to the UK economy and will represent a huge opportunity for international trade.

Not only will the Games see the world’s best athletes visiting the UK, but also major business players from around the globe.

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is helping businesses reach out to these international markets by organising a series of business events and networking opportunities. UKTI has also posted an inspiring mini-movie on YouTube (http://youtu.be/SU-M8AoNzYU) highlighting the business opportunities presented by the Olympics.

We may officially be in a recession but when I attended the MACH 2012 exhibition at the NEC Birmingham earlier this year the UK's manufacturing sector appeared to be fighting back. It was a delight to see so many of our customers there, showcasing new products and forging new business links. And with exhibitors commenting that ‘the show was an unprecedented success’, they ‘struggled to cope with the level of interest’ and the exhibition ‘far exceeded expectations’ confidence levels seemed to be riding high.

Gatwick Airport announced that in May 2012, Air China (incidentally the most profitable airline in the world) will launch non-stop, four weekly services to Beijing from the UK’s second largest airport. Get ready for the new commute!