Business West has launched a drive for Gloucestershire companies to break into the high-growth markets of China, India, Latin America and South East Asia.

A special meeting of Business West's Gloucestershire International Network (GIN) was held at Gloucestershire Airport's Jet Age Museum.

Business West, which represents the Department for International Trade in the South West region, had a team of their export specialists at the meeting to help companies drive into these high-growth markets.

Shozey Jafferi, Business West's South East Asia expert, said there were 625million people in the ASEAN block, which is 100million more people than in the European Union and double the size of the United States.

"The area has a huge number of people - the world's third largest consumer market with the world's third largest number of mobile phone users," she said.

"The warmth and understanding for UK goods is very high but you must engage with them and build your own relationships with regular visits".

Business West's India trade specialist Ameeta Virk spelled out why business owners should be looking to market themselves in India.

"By 2022, India will surpass China in world population," she said. "Iit currently has the world's largest youth population with 500million people under the age of 24.

"This segment of the population is aspirational—they have money and they demand quality goods."

Jonathan Smith, the Business West China expert, said: "There are huge opportunities in China and there are many companies which go into the market and get burnt.

"But my message is: Don't be put off - proceed with confidence and caution. It is the world's second largest economy. 'Why am I not thinking about China?' should be the question companies ask themselves."

Sarah Hildersley, the Latin America specialist, who has lived and worked in more than 20 countries, explained the benefits of making connections in the region.

"We are helping companies on a daily basis to get contacts and to navigate what can be quite a tricky journey," she said. "You must travel to these markets in Latin America to build relationships -that is essential."

John Little, managing director of Fluid Transfer International based at Nailsworth, provided a showcase of his company's export journey that has so far taken in over 90 countries throughout the world.

The company, which is a Queen's Award for International Trade winner, is a leading manufacturer of aviation, marine and ground refuelling equipment and systems to commercial and defence markets worldwide.

Mr Little said: "I started going on trade missions 25 years ago and I would recommend joining a trade mission, especially as a first introduction to a new country.

"You very much have to go and see it yourself - you cannot do this remotely.

"For us, exporting has been a real transformation in the business. In any one year it can represent over 75 per cent of our sales.

"We can no longer be reliant on the UK market, and in particular our defence-related business, where spend has reduced significantly in recent years.

"Growth continues in the Middle East, but more so in Far East markets, where air passenger numbers have grown at a much faster pace than elsewhere globally.

"The huge desire for travel is now in reach for more and more people, becoming increasingly affordable as incomes rise.

"The investment in new infrastructure, replacement modern fleets of the latest aircraft, has to be matched with more and better ground support equipment, which is pushing up our sales to the region."

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