The States and the Chamber of Commerce are giving local businesses an opportunity to understand how they may be able to benefit from importing and exporting directly to France in a free webinar being held tomorrow.
In collaboration with Brittany Ferries and the Brittany Chamber of Commerce, the webinar will include senior members of the Brittany Ferries, Morvan Fils and States of Guernsey’s Economic Development teams discussing options for imports and exports they may not have previously considered, or that were less practical due to past ferry timetables.
From the end of March, ferry services to and from France will operate a more consistent timetable, opening up new possibilities, said the organisers of the webinar.
“The new ferry schedule could be a real game changer for some businesses who can source products directly from the continent,” said Chris Morris, the States of Guernsey’s Head of International Trade.
“It may be quicker, or more cost-effective, and so it is worth considering. But there are also considerations to do with importing directly from outside the Common Travel Area. In many cases these will be very manageable but it is important businesses understand both the opportunities and the requirements.”
Early indications suggest the new ferry timetable is already making a difference in terms of attracting visitors from France, with bookings nearly 80% up compared with this time last year.
Alice Gill, Executive Director of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce, said that is good news that local businesses can capitalise on.
“It’s very encouraging to see more visitors set to come from France this year, supporting our tourism and retail sectors. At the Chamber of Commerce we’re excited to see what other areas could benefit from our new service on the southern route, so we want to help inform businesses and develop relationships between the business communities in our two jurisdictions.”
For full details and to register for the webinar, go to Our Events – Guernsey Chamber of Commerce.