Guide shows SMEs how to compete in eurozone

In a move to encourage more small to medium-sized companies to grow faster through a sharper focus on business opportunities in Europe, Invest NI has produced ‘Trading with the Euro’, a new guide to opportunities within the Eurozone.

The guide is being distributed to over 1,700 client companies and will be available on the web.

Launching the guide, Tracy Meharg, Invest NI’s Managing Director of Innovation and Capability Development Services, said: “This publication has been produced in response to a demand from many of our companies for the latest guidance on doing business in the euro.

“While many companies are already trading successfully in the euro, this guide is designed to provide further support to those seeking to accelerate growth in exports by targeting the eurozone marketplace."

The 64-page ‘Trading with the Euro’ guide has been produced by PricewaterhousCoopers for Invest NI, which has also taken over the information role of the Euro Preparations Forum – the body established by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to promote the single currency in Northern Ireland.

The guide provides information to local companies on the changes they need to make in their financial and accounting systems to take advantage of the euro. This covers procedures for tax and VAT and multi-currency accounting systems.

In addition, the guide offers extensive marketing advice to help companies to develop a clear strategic approach, for example in areas such as pricing, value and branding, for accessing the eurozone.

Copies of the ‘Trading with the Euro’ publication may be obtained from the Euro Information Centre at Invest NI on (028) 9055 2128 or from the website www.investni.com/euroguide

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