Lexis promotes UK business potential with the Commonwealth

Lexis has been named as the official marketing and comms partner for Maritime Connects, an initiative which aims to drive economic growth,  job creation and prosperity throughout the Commonwealth.


Lexis MD Dominic Shales

The Maritime Connects initiative, which is spearheaded by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) and developed by AMPP Group, looks to accelerate and assist the growth of UK exports and investment across the 52 Commonwealth markets, which, with a combined GDP of $10.4 trillion (£8.3 trillion), represent a third of the world’s population.

Lexis will offer companies marketing advice, as well as a suite of services across the marketing cycle, from market-sizing and scoping through to business planning, strategy and implementation of campaigns in-market.

It kicked off activity today (22 February) with the publication of independent research indicating that the Commonwealth is significantly more open to UK trade than with other countries, with UK goods and services regarded as the most popular imports ahead of the US, Germany, Japan, China and France.

At an event at the House of Commons today, research is released, which polled 1000 consumers from Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, India and Canada, that will suggest that the Commonwealth presents a timely opportunity for ambitious UK exporters seeking to grow their businesses internationally.

Almost three quarters of respondents (72%) overall feel they have more shared cultural values with the UK than with any other countries in Europe, while 84% of Indian respondents share this opinion.

The majority of respondents feel positive about the future of their country’s relationship with the UK, with 59% thinking the relationship will be ‘stronger’ by 2020.

Dominic Shales, Lexis MD, said: “Increasing trade with other Commonwealth countries is a huge opportunity for UK businesses. There is a clear appetite for British products and services in the largest Commonwealth markets and this growth is what Maritime Connects aims to facilitate.

“Lexis is going to be advising businesses which sign up to Maritime Connects on all aspects of marketing and communications and it’s exciting to be part of such an important project for the future growth of the UK.”

Anthony Martin, Maritime Connects’ programme director, added: “AMPP Group is delighted to be working with Lexis on the Commonwealth’s ‘Maritime Connects’ initiative. Lexis was selected as a commercial partner to the initiative on the basis of their ability to deliver integrated PR and digital marketing campaigns for innovative, fast growth UK businesses.”

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