Sales and management recruiter m2r has been invited to 10 Downing Street to talk about its successful export strategy in the Middle East.

It’s a reward for the Wakefield-based company whose export turnover has increased by 900% over two years. Last year about 40% of the Wakefield-based recruiter’s business came from Dubai. This year the company has focused more of its efforts on the Bahrain market.

Munir Mamujee, managing director of m2r, told Recruiterthat the secret of the company’s success was to understand the culture of the country in which you do business. “That’s why people respond to us,” he says.

Mamujee’s top tips for success in the Middle East are:

- Be proactive - before entering a new market do your research. “Too many people don’t,” says Mamujee. “This is not jet setting. This is hard work.”

- Eat in the local restaurants not in the best restaurants this helps you understand how much things cost.

- Learn the local language. Mamujee is learning Arabic.

- Don’t use the hotel chauffeur - use a local guy who has been there a long time who can tell you about the country. 

- Don’t assume all markets in the Middle East are the same.

While Dubai “is all about closing the deal, in Bahrain there is much emphasis on building long-term relationships with clients”, says Mamujee.

Mamujee will meet with the Prime Minister on the 7 July.