{"id":60474,"date":"2015-08-15T23:01:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-15T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=0fe199ca7ccdfa546a7c79ebec7f54fc"},"modified":"2015-08-15T23:01:00","modified_gmt":"2015-08-15T23:01:00","slug":"press-release-uk-pavilion-at-milan-expo-2015-celebrates-boost-to-uk-economy-as-it-welcomes-one-millionth-visitor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=60474","title":{"rendered":"Press release: UK Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 celebrates boost to UK economy as it welcomes one millionth visitor"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The accompanying Grown in Britain & Northern Ireland Global Business Programme has facilitated \u00a3183 million in business wins for UK<\/abbr> companies to date.<\/h4>\n

The UK<\/abbr> Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015<\/a> has welcomed more than 1 million visitors since it opened its doors to the public at the beginning of May 2015. The Grown in Britain Global Business Programme has also helped generate more than \u00a3180 million for the UK<\/abbr> economy to date, UK<\/abbr> Trade and Investment (UKTI<\/abbr>) announced today (16 August 2015).<\/p>\n

The World Expo in Milan provides a global stage to promote the UK<\/abbr>\u2019s innovation, expertise and leadership in areas such as food and drink, agriculture and the creative industries. A series of GREAT Weeks have been organised to take place in Milan to enable UK<\/abbr> companies to meet and network with international buyers and experts, and expand in to new markets. <\/p>\n

Companies from across the UK<\/abbr> have benefitted from business contacts and deals facilitated in Milan through the business programme, which was designed to help UK<\/abbr> companies use Milan Expo to access international markets for their business.<\/p>\n

One such company is healthy juice producer Appy Food and Drinks, which attended the GREAT Food & Drink Week in May to promote its range of natural juices that are low in calories and sugar. A networking event, coupled with a Tutto Food innovation award, introduced the company to an Italian distributor who has made a forecasted order of \u20ac250,000 worth of goods with a 10% down payment to start business in this month \u2013 a deal that represents a 15% increase in the company\u2019s annual turnover. <\/p>\n

Bobby Patel, founder of Appy Food and Drinks said:<\/p>\n

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Our juice drinks are becoming more popular abroad due to the lack of access to healthier lines aimed at children. Due to the help from UKTI<\/abbr> we have swung our sales from UK<\/abbr>-based to a 70% export based business which we see as a safer option for the growth of our brand.<\/p>\n

The GREAT Week enabled us to break into the Italian market for the first time and will see our products sold across Italy in stores such as Esselunga and Coop. We are working closely with UKTI<\/abbr> to attend more international food fairs and hopefully break into more markets.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Held every 5 years, the World Expo aims to stimulate conversation around a particular theme. Milan Expo\u2019s theme \u2013 Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life \u2013 highlights the need for countries to work together to find solutions to feed the world\u2019s growing population. <\/p>\n

Each participating country and organisation designs a pavilion that answers the Expo\u2019s theme. Milan Expo 2015 provides the UK<\/abbr> with an opportunity to showcase Britain as a great place to visit, study and to do business. The UK<\/abbr> Pavilion has received acclaim from visitors and commentators. Designed by Nottingham-based artist, Wolfgang Buttress, its design focusses on the vital role of pollination in the global food chain.
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\nLord Francis Maude, Minister for Trade and Investment said:<\/p>\n

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The government aims to have 100,000 more businesses exporting in 2020 than in 2010, and to reach the target of \u00a31 trillion in exports. Milan Expo gives the UK<\/abbr> an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our wide-ranging strengths and build closer business links with global partners that will have long-term benefits for the UK<\/abbr> economy. As a result of the programme, we aim to deliver \u00a31 billion of value to the UK<\/abbr> economy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Notes to editors<\/h3>\n

1.Images from the UK<\/abbr> Pavilion and Appy Food and Drinks\u2019 products can be downloaded from the UK<\/abbr> Pavilion press pack on Dropbox<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2.UK<\/abbr> Trade and Investment (UKTI<\/abbr>) is the government department that helps UK<\/abbr>-based companies succeed globally and assists overseas companies to bring investment to the UK<\/abbr>. We lead the whole of government effort to help UK<\/abbr> firms win business overseas and rebalance the economy towards export-led sustainable economic growth.<\/p>\n

3.The UK<\/abbr> is participating at the World Expo 2015 in Milan from 1 May to 31 October 2015. The World Expos take place every 5 years and the core theme for Milan Expo is \u2018Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life\u2019. 145 nations are participating, including the UK<\/abbr>\u2019s major political and trading partners, in addition to the United Nations, the European Union, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research and a host of NGOs<\/abbr>. Milan Expo 2015 offers a global platform to promote UK<\/abbr> international agendas and showcase how British innovation, creativity and global leadership are helping to feed the planet.<\/p>\n

The UK<\/abbr>\u2019s participation theme for Milan Expo 2015 is \u2018Grown in Britain & Northern Ireland\u2019, led by UK<\/abbr> Trade and Investment (UKTI<\/abbr>) with support from 7 HM Government departments. The UK<\/abbr> Pavilion is inspired by the crucial role played by pollination in providing the food that we eat. It offers visitors a unique experiential journey taken from the perspective of the honey bee and forms the platform for a programme of UK<\/abbr> business, science and cultural events, linked to the leading role the UK<\/abbr> plays in overcoming global challenges.<\/p>\n

The UK<\/abbr>\u2019s main messages at Milan Expo 2015 are:<\/p>\n