Technology and Building Materials Trade Mission to London

THE MISSION IN BRIEF

The Board of Trade’s team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, in collaboration with the Association de la Construction du Québec (ACQ), is organizing a trade mission to London, in the United Kingdom, from November 10 to 14, 2014.

This will be an opportunity for Quebec companies operating in the building technologies and materials sector to meet the largest real estate developers, buyers, and potential partners, and thereby take advantage of the full potential of many upcoming construction projects.

Registration includes the following advantages:

• Business meetings with contractors (real estate developers and architects)
• Seminar at the Canadian High Commission in the United Kingdom
• 4 nights lodging with included breakfasts
• Networking activities
• Transportation for group activities
• The mission binder
• Directory of participants
• Guidance and support over the course of your stay

Preliminary program

WHY LONDON?

Just two years after the 2012 Olympic Games, London is undergoing a transformation, turning into a construction site that extends well beyond the borders of the Olympic Village. Over the next 10 years, the United Kingdom’s capital will see its number of buildings truly multiply. According to New London Architecture, at least 236 skyscraper projects over 20-storeys tall will materialize over the next few years. Construction will mainly be concentrated in the city centre and its east end. The majority of these skyscrapers—80%—will be for residential use; the remaining projects include office towers, hotels, multiple-use buildings, and a university centre.

The Greater London Authority is putting a strong emphasis on vertical construction in order to quickly address the housing shortage, at a time when the price of land is very high. Faced with this challenge, real estate developers, architects, and other major contractors are naturally inclined to build upwards. The situation is further exacerbated by a phenomenal demand for housing and the flood of foreign capital from East Asia, where skyscrapers have long been part of the urban landscape.

Building construction has therefore reached new heights, offering a unique opportunity for businesses to showcase their expertise in the areas of building technologies and materials.

Of these 236 skyscrapers:

• 33 are expected to be between 40 and 49 storeys tall
• 22 are expected to be 50 or more storeys tall

A look at the insight study carried out by New London Architecture
http://www.newlondonarchitecture.org/dls/TB_B1.pdf
The project showcase
http://www.newlondonarchitecture.org/dls/TB_B2.pdf

United Kingdom, facts and figures:

• A national population estimated at over 63.7 million inhabitants in 2014, including 8.6 million in London¹, which should reach 10 million by 2030
• A GDP estimated at about $2.378 trillion in 2013²
• The world’s 9th largest economy in 2013³
• Ranked 10th out of 148 countries according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report (2013-2014)⁴
• Canadian exports valued at $18.8 billion in 2012, making the United Kingdom the 3rd largest destination for Canadian exports (after the United States and China)⁵

Take part in this mission to:

• Develop contacts with potential buyers
• Position your firm and your products on the market
• Define your business development strategy in the United Kingdom
• Network with other businesses interested in the British market

WHO SHOULD TAKE PART?

• All contractors working in the building technologies and materials sector.

• The mission will be of particular interest to businesses in the following sectors.

• Building technologies relating to:

• Energy efficiency
• Plumbing
• Air conditioning
• Ventilation
• Refrigeration
• Fire protection
• Security
• Heating systems
• Building automation systems

• Building materials, including:

• Structural steel
• Ornamental metal
• Windows
• Window walls
• Architectural woodwork products
• Stone, tile, granite, and marble
• Various metals and fabricated metals
• Mouldings
• Interior finishing products
• Wood flooring and floor coverings
• Environmental construction products
• Innovative insulation products

Seize the business opportunities resulting from this massive urban planning project!