NEC trade office gets boost to increase investment work - A trade office at the NEC which encourages foreign investment and also helps West Midlands companies to export has secured funding from Advantage West Midlands to continue working until at least 2010. The International Trade Promotions Centre at the NEC is located in the Atrium and was launched in 2002 to work with the NEC Group and regional and overseas exhibitors who are attending shows at what is Europe’s busiest exhibition centre. The office is a partnership venture funded by UK Trade & Investment, Birmingham Chamber, Locate in Birmingham and Advantage West Midlands. The four-strong team at the office is responsible for contacting West Midlands exhibitors to offer UKTI support for export opportunities, contact overseas exhibitors at selected NEC shows to provide potential inward investment leads and also to promote the region as a destination for business and investment. As a result of the £300,000 funding from Advantage West Midlands, the office will be able to continue working to attract foreign investment which has seen more than 8,500 jobs created and more than 10,000 safeguarded over the last two years.