RIA & Department for International Trade launch first ever virtual rail trade mission, to Canada

19 November 2020

The Railway Industry Association and the UK’s Department for International Trade are partnering to launch their first ever joint virtual UK rail trade mission, to Canada. The mission will see delegates take part in a programme of activities over 1 to 12 February 2021 with key players across the Canadian rail sector.
 
The first week will involve virtual roundtables and presentations over a number of days, with week two containing one-to-one meetings where mission delegates will be able to speak directly to Canadian stakeholders about collaboration opportunities.
 
Neil Walker, Exports Director at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Department for International Trade on our first joint virtual rail trade mission. This mission follows our series of Rail Outreach Webinars, each exploring a different international market, with the July edition on Canada attracting a very large UK audience.
 
“Canada is of keen interest to UK rail suppliers and was listed in the top ten priority markets for UK rail businesses in the recent Rail Sector Deal Exports Survey. The Canadian Government has made infrastructure investment a high priority, with £48 billion in planned and announced rail projects over the coming decades.
 
“So, this trade mission is a great opportunity to showcase UK expertise in rail and shows how the industry is working collaboratively with Government to overcome the travel restrictions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, ensuring we continue to promote UK plc in these difficult times.”

Notes to Editors
  1. More information about the virtual trade mission can be found here
  2. The Rail Supply Group’s Exports Survey results can be found here
  3. About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. RIA has 300+ companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry. www.riagb.org.uk