PRESS RELEASE

BUSINESS BEYOND BORDERS, HOST 20th – 21st October 2017

A MATCHMAKING HUB FOR INTERNATIONAL SMEs

The next Business Beyond Borders matchmaking event will take place in Milan at HOST, the leading food, hospitality and tourism fair, on 20 to 21 October 2017.

After three successful matchmaking sessions at Genera (Madrid), African Utility Week (Cape Town), and Texworld (Paris), the next Business Beyond Borders (BBB) matchmaking event turns its attention to Italy and will be organising meetings and talks at HOST, the main European fair for food, hospitality and tourism. Celebrating its 40th Edition, HOST will combine supply chains and common services, leveraging the specificities of each and every sector and individual enterprise to guarantee the maximisation of investments.

Business Beyond Borders help businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Clusters, to trade across borders and explore third markets. During HOST, BBB will provide a matchmaking hub for EU and non-EU companies looking for new business and new partners.

Welcoming the upcoming BBB event, Massimo Gaudina, Head of the EU Regional Representation in Milan, says "The European Commission considers SMEs and entrepreneurship as critical to ensuring economic growth, innovation, job creation, and social integration in the EU; and the funds that it makes available to support SMEs are testimony to that.   In Italy alone, thanks to the Juncker Plan, 52 agreements with financial institutions have been signed, allowing €1.7 billion in total financing which is set to trigger approximately €21.5 billion in investments in SMEs.  And programmes such as BBB offer the practical support also required by SMEs in order to grow through trading internationally".

The event will also be supported by Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international ambitions. “Enterprise Europe Network’s brokerage events bring together businesses and other organisations looking for partners to take their projects forward. More than 600 EEN partners located all over the world cooperate in the organisation of brokerage events, that often take place alongside international trade fairs and conferences”, says Susy Longoni, EEN Project Manager for InnovubSSI – Special Agency of Milan Chamber of Commerce. “HOST Matchmaking Event 2017 is a unique platform to share innovative technologies, initiate cross border co-operations and to find new business partners in the

Business Beyond Borders is an initiative funded by the European Commissionand coordinated by EUROCHAMBRES

H.O.R.E.C.A. and hospitality fields. Initiatives like Business Beyond Borders will help companies to make better use of their time at HOST, with its 14 pavilions, a real hub for the Ho.Re.Ca world.”

Companies attending the BBB matchmaking sessions will be able to benefit from a unique package:

Business meetings perfectly matching each BBB delegate needs and preferences taking place in a convenient matchmaking area at the heart of the trade fair;

Access to technical sessions in the strategic conference on relevant topics for BBB participants;

Access to an international and well placed worldwide network, including several EU-funded support schemes.

Participation in the BBB Social Media Competition for a chance to further promote your business online;

Professional assistance on the spot and after the event to make the participation tailored to the needs of each BBB delegate.

The registration is now open at https://www.b2match.eu/hostmilano2017. More than 200 companies are expected to attend the B2B Meetings in the dedicated BBB area.

Business Beyond Borders, maximising your business matchmaking experience at HOST Milan 2017!

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Contact: Ana Oliveira, LOW Europe: press@businessbeyondborders.info

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Business Beyond Borders (BBB): BBB is a European Commission initiative to help EU businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Clusters, operate internationally with the ultimate goal of increasing economic growth within and outside Europe. A series of matchmaking events are being organised at HOST to bring together SMEs and representatives from relevant clusters, with potential trading partners from Europe and abroad with the aim of assisting businesses to access new international markets.

The Business Beyond Borders Consortium is represented by: EUROCHAMBRES: The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry

represents over 20 million businesses in Europe – 98% of which are SMEs – through members in 43 countries and a network of 1700 regional and local Chambers.

EMECA: The European Major Exhibition Centres Association unites 22 leading exhibition venues in Europe. They provide businesses with an excellent infrastructure and outstanding information networks. The 22 EMECA Members organise and host 1,769 exhibitions a year, both in Europe and all over the globe, with more than 350,000 exhibitors and over 41,5 million visitors.

UFI: The leading global association of the world’s tradeshow organisers and exhibition centre operators, as well as the major national and international exhibition associations. UFI represents 700 member organisations in 83 countries around the world. Over 900 international trade fairs bear the UFI quality label.

LOW: A strategic communications consultancy based in Brussels, with a network of associates across Europe. We specialise in creating policy-rich events; managing complex programmes; PR and all types of marketing communications; and EU related public affairs.

For more information visit the website www.businessbeyondborders.info

HOST Milan: HOST has established itself as the leader in the Ho.Re.Ca, food service, retail, mass distribution channel and hotel industries. Host is a must-attend hub for all professionals who work in the hospitality industry, and a privileged destination to check the latest innovations from companies and for understanding the latest market trends.

Business Beyond Borders is an initiative funded by the European Commissionand coordinated by EUROCHAMBRES

This is the favourite event of top players for offering a preview of technologic innovations in food equipment, food products (ingredients, semi-prepared items), the world of coffee as well as in design and lifestyle solutions. It is also a unique marketplace for doing quality international business with carefully selected professionals with a high-level purchasing power.The main sectors covered by HOST are hospitality equipment, food and coffee, food service, retail and mass retail, hotel industry.

Business Beyond Borders is an initiative funded by the European Commissionand coordinated by EUROCHAMBRES