The event, organised by international trade adviser Tim Cooper-Cocks alongside Margaret Bourke, Founder of Taskeru International Consultancy, was an opportunity for firms to find out more about dipping their toe into the US market.
Ohio is the third largest manufacturing state in the USA and has a highly skilled workforce.
Mentor is within a day’s drive of 60 per cent of the whole of the US population and also close to the Canadian border, making it an ideal landing pad for UK investment.
Kevin Malecek, Director of Economic Development and International Trade for the City of Mentor, said: We have a very diverse economy with a range of sectors represented.
“Mentor already has a robust manufacturing base, but we are expanding in the industries of life sciences and aerospace engineering.
“We want to be able to support UK businesses in joining our fast-growing economy and there are a whole host of benefits for companies from Coventry and Warwickshire to talk to us.”
Ken Filipiak, Mentor city manager, added: “Ohio is one of the largest economies in the world, and it sometimes gets overlooked when businesses are looking to invest or trade with the US.
“But we have a strong economy, and the cost of doing business is dramatically lower than many other places in the US. We make life as easy as possible for anyone wanting to talk to us because we see the real value in this kind of trade and investment.”
Tim Cooper-Cocks, international trade advisor for the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The US has a vast market for businesses to expand and grow into. The opportunity to have a ‘soft-landing’ with Mentor means companies can feel genuinely supported in their efforts to grow in this market.
“There are great synergies between our economies. We both have a heritage in traditional manufacturing which remain at our hearts, but with advanced manufacturing, life sciences and aerospace all gaining more prominence.
“We were very pleased to welcome the team to the Chamber and the businesses in attendance asked lots of questions and there was genuine interest in making the most of this opportunity.”
For more information contact Tim Cooper-Cocks at [email protected] or www.mentormeansbusiness.com
