The Managing Director of West Wales-based luxury socks and knitwear manufacturer Corgi Hosiery will travel to Moscow with Wales’ Economy Minister Edwina Hart this week, to take part in a Welsh Government trade mission to Russia.

On a mission

Chris Jones, who runs the company jointly with his sister Lisa Wood, will join representatives from a range of other Welsh businesses embarking on the three-day mission, which is designed to boost Russian investment in Wales and to promote Welsh businesses across Eastern Europe.

Events scheduled during the mission include a reception for European Business and a Welsh Reception, both to be held at the UK Ambassador’s Residence in Moscow.

Royal Warrant holders Corgi already have a very strong export market that accounts for nearly 70% of the company’s total business; however, Chris Jones is keen to focus on expanding the company’s  European sales network.

Mr Jones said, “The Corgi brand has a huge following in both the United States and Japan, and we are currently working on developing our sales network in Korea; however, cracking major developing European markets is a key aim for us this year. Russian consumers are increasingly prosperous and value high-quality brands”.

Corgi workforce

Edwina Hart, a Welsh Labour politician, visited Corgi’s Ammanford factory earlier this year, as part of a tour of the region meeting businesses that employ people from within their local community.

Corgi currently employs 50 members of staff, many of whom live in the surrounding Amman Valley. The company has added 10 people to its workforce in the past two years, making use of schemes such as Workways, an employment project backed by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government to offer job opportunities to local people.

The Russian trade mission comes ahead of Corgi’s trip to Buckingham Palace next month, where the company will join 200 other Royal Warrant Holders at a unique four-day event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.

Corgi is one of the very few Welsh companies participating in the event which will celebrate the innovation, excellence and industry shown by those fine brands which have earned the recognition of a Royal Warrant.

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