New business opportunities shine for Derbyshire company in the Far East
Posted on 27. Aug, 2010 by editor in Business News
Business prospects are set to rise for a firm from Bonsall in Derbyshire, after returning from a UKTI market visit to the Far East.
CST International joined seven other companies from across the East Midlands to take part in a trade mission to Japan, which aimed to encourage growth in their export sales with the world’s second largest economy, and help businesses to look at Japan as a potential market for their products.
The company, which was established in 2002, specialises in supplying stone, road repair products and building aggregates to the road construction and hard landscaping markets.
Robin Chilton, Managing Director of CST International, said: “The trade mission to Japan was really well coordinated and I’ve received a lot of valuable support from UKTI, the Embassy and the British Consulate-General.
“I went a couple of days before the trip officially started so in total I had 12 business meetings while I was away, five of which were with brand new contacts.
“Although I know the Japanese market fairly well, we wanted to launch a specific range of decorative pebbles to the building and landscaping industry. CST International commissioned some research through the Embassy, contacting companies who would potentially be interested in the product to help build a high profile in this particular sector.
“The Japanese are really easy to do business with, they like you to deal with them like they are your friends. They don’t want reams and reams of paperwork and contracts, just straightforward trading terms which focus on product quality.”
Peter Hogarth, International Trade Director for UKTI East Midlands said: “75 per cent of the companies who visited Japan had used UKTI’s Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) to identify potential clients so it was a really good opportunity for them to meet the people who had written the reports.
“On the first working day, all delegates met with UKTI’s commercial staff at our offices in the British Embassy, Tokyo, where they were briefed about the current climate in Japan. In the afternoon, delegates were free to do their own thing and many had arranged meetings in advance.
“A reception took place on the Tuesday with Japanese guests who were interested in our companies’ products and they all then went on to a larger event to celebrate two years to go to the 2012 Olympic Games.
“The visit was extremely successful. One company secured a six figure value order, another is set to take part in a joint venture with a Japanese company and a third was able to rebuild three contacts lost over a year ago.
“No one got lost and some delegates have gone on to research business prospects in other Far Eastern markets including Taiwan. “
For further details about Japan and the opportunities the country offers, visit the UKTI website www.ukti.gov.uk, click on countries and select Japan.
Pictured from L to R: Dr Taka Hirai, Business Link Japan Yoshiyuki Sato, Business Link Japan Masataka Yamakawa, General Manager – Japan & Asia, Intelligent Energy Robin Chilton, MD, CST International Steve Crane – MD Business Link Japan Richard Mauger, Director, Mauger Modern Art Dr Kathryn Walsh, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor, Loughborough University Peter Hogarth, International Trade Director, UKTI East Midlands Jeremy Hill, First Secretary, UKTI British Embassy Japan Emma Ball, Director, Emma Ball Ltd Lee Newsome, Export Sales Manager, Panache Lingerie Ltd. Hiroko Tanaka, Business Link Japan Ken Johnson, Export Manager, Ibstock Brick Ltd Byron Chatburn, MD, Sea-Band Ltd
