What is Partenariat and how can it help my business?

Partenariat events offer you a unique opportunity to market your company in several different countries whilst only needing to make one short overseas trip. At each event, literally hundreds of key decision makers from companies from the European Union and further afield visit the host country. Some of them could be coming to meet with you.

How does it work?

Each Partenariat event focuses on a number of industry sectors and all participating companies must demonstrate their capacity and willingness to trade internationally. Hosting companies provide a profile of themselves for the event catalogue which is circulated in participating countries and is available via the internet. Visiting companies can request appointments with the companies they wish to meet. Meeting schedules are then prearranged and all the meetings take place over 2 days under one roof. You can add more meetings with host companies or other visitors to your schedule at any time before or during the event.

Forging Partnerships Across the Globe

Marketing your company in several different countries for less than the cost of visiting one may sound too good to be true, but this is just one of the reasons why more and more UK companies are wising up to the benefits of Partenariat.

A European Commission initiative, Partenariat was introduced in 1988 to help small and medium sized companies find business partners in overseas markets. Since then, it has grown exponentially, until the event is now recognised throughout the world as one of the fastest and most cost effective ways of forging overseas business links.

Partenariat takes the form of a two-day business meeting event, focusing on a number of industry sectors. Each Partenariat typically features 400 specially selected companies from the host region around 2,000 visitor companies from Europe and around the world.

Host companies are described in a comprehensive catalogue and their partnership objectives are outlined. John Harrison, who co-ordinates the UK arm of Partenariat on behalf of BCC says:

"It is important for visitor companies to go through the catalogue and identify which of the host companies they would like to meet. Meetings, lasting around 30 minutes, can then be pre-arranged and free interpreters provided, where necessary.

"However, what makes Partenariat such an outstanding global networking opportunity is that visitors can also arrange to meet other visitors once they arrive at the event. This means that your company could meet up with potential partners from around the world by attending a single Partenariat event."

There is no charge to attend a Partenariat, once your registration has been accepted by the organisers. Companies are expected to pay for their own travel and accommodation, but greatly discounted packages are available through the BCC.

John concludes:

"Visitors to a Partenariat event should not necessarily expect to go home with orders in their pocket. Unlike a trade mission, the primary aim is not sales but networking. Long-term relationships are forged at these events and companies can benefit in a whole range of ways, from locating distributors to obtaining first-hand advice on a marketplace."