UKTI promotes the UK creative industries sector in Portugal

Successful networking event highlights potential in Portuguese market for the UK creative sector.

The British Ambassador Alexander Ellis hosted a Lunch on Tuesday, 30th March at the Official Residence in Lisbon. The lunch was organised by UKTI in partnership with the British Council Lisbon and the theme was “The Creative Industries – Defining and Developing the Creative Economy”, and the objective was to promote the UK Creative Industries Sector.

The main speaker was Tom Fleming of the Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy (London) who is an expert in this field and has extensive international experience of the Creative Industries and has also worked on several major projects in Portugal. Tom spoke about the contribution that this sector has made towards the British economy in general, as well as the need to for communication and to align business and creativity. He also spoke of the potential of this sector in Portugal and the opportunities for UK and Portuguese companies to work together in the future.

Andrew Senior, Senior Expert Creative Economy at the British Council in London, also spoke briefly about the British Council's work in this sector and more specifically about their YCE - Young Creative Entrepreneurship Scheme.

The lunch was attended by 56 guests from both the public and private sector in the creative industries including the Secretary of State for Culture, the CEO's of some major Portuguese banks and foundations, several artists and British companies already represented in Portugal - Broadway Malyan (Architectural Firm), Ogilvy & Mather Portugal (Advertising), J Walter Thompson (Advertising), Young & Rubicam (Advertising) and Barclays Bank.

The lunch proved to be a very successful networking event and platform for the promotion of the UK Creative Industries. Our aim is to promote UK exports in the creative industry sector via partnerships, joint ventures and representation with relevant Portuguese organizations - the UK abounds with successful companies that have greatly contributed to the development of the sector, and are able to share and export this knowledge and experience to Portugal.

UKTI's range of expert services are tailored to the needs of individual businesses to maximise their international success. We provide companies with knowledge, advice and practical support.

Contacts

For further information or advice please contact:

Monica Andersen

UKTI Lisbon

Tel: +351 21 392 4060

Email: monica.andersen@fco.gov.uk