RICHARD WATKINSON’S COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING BUSINESS TIES BETWEEN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, AND ATLANTA WAS NOT CHILLED BY A WINTER BLIZZARD THAT SWEPT THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST IN MID-MARCH AND CONFINED HIM TO HIS HOTEL ROOM.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS FORCED TO CANCEL APPOINTMENTS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSMEN AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, HE REMAINED POSITIVE ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES INVOLVING THE TWO AREAS. HE VISITED BOTH GEORGIA AND NEW JERSEY ON THIS TRIP AS PART OF BRITAIN’S NORTH AMERICA NOW CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THE CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO REVERSE THE U.K.’S DECLINE IN ITS SHARE OF THE U.S. MARKET WHILE FORGING NEW JOINT VENTURES FOR MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES. OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, THE U.K.’S SHARE OF U.S. VISIBLE EXPORTS SHOULD BE LIFTED FROM 3.8 PERCENT TO 5 PERCENT, BOOSTING EXPORTS BY ABOUT $4.4 BILLION A YEAR TO $18 BILLION.
THE U.S. IS BRITAIN’S THIRD LARGEST EXPORT MARKET, TRAILING GERMANY AND FRANCE WITH A SHARE OF ABOUT 13 PERCENT OF VISIBLE EXPORTS IN 1992.
MR. WATKINSON, WHO HEADS THE DTI’S REGIONAL OFFICE IN MANCHESTER, READILY ADMITTED THAT THE CAMPAIGN REPRESENTS A REFOCUSING OF ATTENTION ON THE U.S. AFTER A PREOCCUPATION WITH EUROPE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR EYES OFF THE BALL IN THE U.S. AND IT SHOWS, HE SAID.
THE CAMPAIGN TARGETS 20 U.S. SECTORS, INCLUDING SERVICES, MOTORS, GIFTWARE, MAIL ORDER, FOOD AND DRINK, AIRPORT EQUIPMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND CLOTHING AS PROVIDING LIKELY OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.K. EXPORTERS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES AN EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH 10 SCHOLARSHIPS A YEAR AT THE J.L. KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT IN CHICAGO AND WORKSHOPS ON ISSUES SUCH AS HOW TO REDUCE MARKET ENTRY OVERHEAD COSTS AS WELL AS OVERVIEWS ON U.S. SALES PRACTICES.
MR. WATKINSON SAID THAT BEFORE THE BLIZZARD STRUCK HE DID MANAGE TO MEET WITH GLEN CORNELL, A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT NATIONSBANK, A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR’S DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND LYNN PITTS, WHO HEADS GEORGIA POWER COMPANY’S DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.