Bosses at troubled Bradford exporting firms are being given a helping hand by the city's Chamber of Commerce.

Companies throughout Bradford are suffering at the moment because the strong pound abroad is crippling their traditional export bases.

Among the worst hit are textiles and engineering firms which have people working on short time or have made workers redundant.

Now Chamber Management Services, the organisation behind Bradford Chamber of Commerce, has set up a Southern Africa Roadshow in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Claire Teasdale, the Chamber's international services officer said today: "The last six months have not been easy for exporters and many of our member companies have expressed a need to find new markets or investigate the potential for a proactive approach in regions where they have previously been reactive."

The roadshow is also being developed with the Southern Africa Development Community, a grouping of 11 countries which have a combined population of 130 million and a joint gross national product of £90 billion - Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Malcolm Sewell, the Chamber's International Services Manager, said: "Companies are always on the look-out for new opportunities. The roadshow will highlight these newly-emerging markets."

The Southern Africa Roadshow is planned for Friday, September 11 at the Chamber's headquarters in Phoenix House, Thornbury, from 9.30am.

For further information and to reserve a place contact Claire Teasdale on 01274 772777.

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