Hamilton congratulates SDC Trailers on further export success in Saudi Arabia

Date published: 6 October 2016

Economy Minister Simon Hamilton MLA has congratulated Toomebridge company SDC Trailers on securing business worth £480,000 in Saudi Arabia.

One of the largest trailer manufacturers in Europe, SDC has secured a growing number of export orders over the last ten years, particularly in the Middle East, with the company opening an office in Dubai in 2015. SDC’s export success for its bespoke curtainsiders, boxvans, skeletals, platforms and urban trailers follows a range of support services from Invest Northern Ireland

Congratulating the company on its latest export success, Economy Minister Simon Hamilton MLA said: “This contract is the result of SDC’s dynamic approach to innovation and exporting. The company’s continuous investment in developing new products has recently produced a world’s first in its ground-breaking Kinetic Energy Recovery System semi-trailer.

“SDC has availed of a range of Invest NI advice and support to help it identify and develop export markets. In 2010, SDC secured a partnership with a local company in Saudi Arabia following a trade mission in the region and more recently Invest NI’s Trade Advisory service and agency office in Jeddah, enabled them to identify new customers and secure a £480,000 contract with the prestigious Kanoo Group.”

The Minister was speaking following his trade visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi where he met with the British Ambassador to the UAE, representatives from the British Centre for Business as well as senior business leaders and significant Northern Ireland exporters in the region.

Speaking about his desire to see other local companies emulate SDC Trailers export success, the Minister added: "Over the last three days I have been hugely impressed by the success of Northern Ireland companies who are proving that opportunities exist in the Middle East for those who want to make their mark on the global stage.

“Increasing our level of exports is essential in the drive to grow our economy and transform Northern Ireland into a globally competitive region. The Trade Accelerator Plan I launched last month will further build on Northern Ireland’s recent export successes and encourage more local businesses to sell their goods, products and services outside of our region for the first time.

“SDC is a good example of a company that has benefitted from Invest NI export support and we want to encourage and facilitate many more local companies to follow in their footsteps.”

Mark Cuskeran, CEO of SDC Trailers, said: “We’re delighted to have won this significant contract with the Kanoo Group, as we continue to build customer relationships and develop our presence in the Middle East. Invest NI’s support has been invaluable to us over many years and has enabled us to reach new customers in a cost-effective way.

"2016 has been a momentous year for SDC following the company’s acquisition by CIMC Vehicles; the world’s largest trailer manufacturer with a presence in Continental Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Africa. I am confident that by continuing our focus on product innovation and bespoke trailer manufacturing, SDC will have further success in the export market.”