OCO Global records growth during pandemic

The business which has offices in 11 countries employing 110 people has seen its workforce grow, creating 15 new jobs in 2020, many of which are based at its Belfast HQ.

OCO Global which advises governments across the world, including the UK’s Department of International Trade, has been working with clients on defining their response to the economic challenges caused by Covid-19.

The last year has also seen the business grow and expand its international operations with the recent announcement of a new office in Shanghai, China, and a new partnership with market entry specialist Aventura. The expansion will enable the firm to support international economies to attract cross-border investment from China and build out relationships with the Chinese government and companies.

According to Gareth Hagan, Deputy CEO of OCO Global, international trade and investment has never been more in the spotlight. Issues such as Brexit, US-China Trade Wars, and the upcoming UK US trade negotiations will have a significant global impact. However, the pandemic and its aftermath will bring new challenges around re-shaping global supply chains and governments will be working hard to re-build economies, knowing that many industries will be fundamentally changed post Covid-19. OCO Global will be working with both government and private sector clients to address, not only, the obvious challenges but also in identifying future opportunities.

Gareth Hagan said: “Having joined the business in 2015, my focus has been on developing and delivering our growth strategy. As well as expanding our footprint to cover 90% of global trade and investment flows, we wanted to broaden our business to support international growth in all its forms, and we now work extensively with companies on their growth plans, including many companies from across the island of Ireland who are flourishing abroad. In those five years, we have more than doubled the size of our business, and our staff which now comprises 110 expert professionals across the globe. It is great news for our business and a strong reflection of the talent here in Northern Ireland that in a truly global operation, OCO has Belfast at its centre.

“As a business we are focused on using our expertise to support clients and economies recover from the adverse impacts of COVID 19 and we see significant additional opportunities as industries and business models change. In an ever more digital world, we are developing our own technology solutions to enable clients to grow their business internationally. Trade and Investment will doubtless sit central to the global recovery in the medium term, and we are well positioned to further grow our business. Indeed, our work with clients across the world in the last three months is testimony to this”

“We are proud to have developed a business that continually punches above its weight, advising several of the world’s G20 economies and 15 of the 50 US states on their investment attraction efforts. I look forward to continuing the journey at OCO, working with my colleagues in growing the business, and our Belfast HQ, in the coming years.”

OCO Global has offices in Belfast, London, Paris, New York, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Shanghai, Riyadh, Dubai and Los Angeles.

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