March 2005
TRAINING SUCCESS IN SRI LANKA FOR CHRISTCHURCH COMPANY

A Christchurch marketing company is developing major new business opportunities in Sri Lanka, The Maldives, India and Pakistan following a UK Trade & Investment trade mission to Sri Lanka.

Insight Marketing has just signed a deal with 3 agents in Sri Lanka to promote the company's Open Learning courses on sales, marketing, customer care, and call centre operations. The agents are Scholars Information Centre, Fernandez and Associates, and Business Management School, all based in Colombo. They will promote Insight's courses in Sri Lanka, The Maldives, India and Pakistan.

In addition, Managing Director Dianne Edgar has been invited to provide specialist live training, and deliver a programme designed to empower women in the garment industry.

While the recovery stage from the Tsunami disaster is still in progress, business people in Sri Lanka want to get moving on a number of initiatives which will help reconstruct their economy.

Dianne Edgar said:

"I was concerned that it was not an appropriate time to visit. However, my contacts were very positive in encouraging me to come. I met so many people who had lost relatives, as well as some who had had a miraculous escape. They told me the country now needed to go forward, and build international relationships with companies like mine".

Dianne visited Sri Lanka with a UK Trade & Investment Trade Mission, to follow up contacts made during a previous trade mission run by Dorset Business last year. She expects to return in June.

Elaine Walker, International Trade Officer at Dorset Business and Mission Manager of the visit in June said, "I am thrilled to hear of the success of Insight Marketing in Sri Lanka. I persuaded Dianne to participate in our visit last June and she did so, working tirelessly to gain these contacts. She returned to the UK having received a very positive reaction and with a determination to return to finalise the contracts.

Following the tragedies that have been suffered in Sri Lanka, it is good to hear that business is carrying on as before and yet more links with the UK are being forged. Once again I feel that this success demonstrates how useful Trade Missions are to new or inexperienced exporters."

To find out more contact Dianne Edgar at Insight Marketing Services on 01425 276303, email Dianne@i-marketing.uk.com

To find out about future trade missions with Dorset Business, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry or to find out more about exporting contact Elaine Walker: 01202 714800 / elaine.walker@dorsetbusiness.net