One of the foremost figures in international trade met two Coventry companies who are proving how exporting boosts business.
Lord Green, the Minister for Trade and Investment - who retires from his role next month - was in the city last week as part of Export Week, which promotes overseas trade to firms across the country.
Lord Green launched the new Coventry and Warwickshire International Trade Hub at Chamber House and met around 20 local business leaders to discuss the benefits and issues around exporting.
He also accompanied members of the Chamber's UKTI international trade team to meet staff and directors at Harper Chalice, in Binns Close, and Serious Games International (SGI) at Coventry University Technology Park.
The firms are from two entirely different fields but both are great examples of the importance of trading in international markets.
Harper Chalice is a manufacturer and supplier of high-tech perimeter security and fencing, which is now deployed around the world at everything from palaces to sports stadia.
Managing director Graham Harper said: “We’ve had support from UKTI, the Chamber and MAS in a very joined up way and we now have systems in North Europe and the Middle and Far East.
"Our security systems were used in the Olympic project - not just protecting the Games themselves, but protecting the building projects in the run-up to the Olympics. That meant that when the recession hit, we had a good stream of work and could invest in technology and development. It is paying off now and it was great to share our story with Lord Green and he encouraged us to look at further markets now."
SGI offers businesses the chance to use the latest technology for learning, simulation and problem solving in the virtual world.
On the back of support from UKTI, the company has landed contracts in Asia -with United World College of South East Asia and are in development talks with Singapore Airlines.
It is also in talks over possible deals in the USA after taking part in a UKTI trip to Washington earlier this year.
Tim Luft, managing director of SGI, said: "It was great to welcome Lord Green to our offices. We highlighted the kind of technology we are using and how we have taken something that began as entertainment and turned it into a very serious business tool for training and marketing purposes.
"We are now working in several countries across the world and are looking to expand our reach in the New Year. The UKTI team at the Chamber have been a great help in identifying and researching new markets and it is certainly a key driver for growth for the company.
"We would certainly recommend that other businesses make use of the services available because there is definitely a world of opportunity out there."
As well as the meeting with SGI and Harper Chalice, Lord Green spoke to and took questions from a range of businesses at Chamber House including manufacturers and service sector firms.
Topics ranged from skills to Europe and Lord Green - who will hand over the reins to Baron Livingston in December - answered openly and honestly while constantly delivering the message of the importance of global trade.
Sir Peter Rigby, chairman of Rigby Group, who was a special guest at the lunch, said: "I would like to thank Lord Green for his leadership as a real ambassador for the country.
"He has been an advocate and ambassador for international trade.
"From my point of view as a businessman, 65 per cent of our revenues are from outside the UK so I understand the great importance of export." Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Export Week is a very important period to highlight the importance of overseas trade but our efforts when it comes to export are 365 days a year.
"That is why we have launched our Coventry and Warwickshire International Trade Hub here at Chamber House because we want more and more companies to benefit from selling their goods and services overseas and we would like to thank Lord Green for highlighting that message over the past three years."