Two West Midlands companies from the environmental technologies sector are celebrating after winning business worth over £300,000 during a UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) market visit to Turkey.

International Synergies, of Kings Norton Business Centre, Birmingham, and Black Country Metals, of Lye, Stourbridge, secured the deals on UKTI's West Midlands Environmental Technologies Cluster visit to Istanbul and Ankara earlier this month.

International Synergies, which identifies, develops and delivers industrial ecology-based solutions across all business sectors worldwide, signed a contract worth £80,000 for industrial symbiosis consultancy services in Turkey, with the prospect of further work in subsequent years.

Company CEO Peter Laybourn said: "We are delighted to win this business as a result of taking part in the UKTI visit. I'd definitely recommend visiting overseas markets with UKTI - the knowledge and contacts provided by UKTI and other Embassy staff were crucial to our success."

Black Country Metals, a trader of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in global markets, is expecting £250,000 worth of business to come from the visit in the short term and at least double this within a year.

Peter Mathews CMG, chairman and managing director of Black Country Metals, said: "Winning this business is great news for us and shows that there are excellent opportunities in Turkey for West Midlands companies.

"There is an increasing demand for products and services that will help clean up the environment in Turkey as the country strives to meet exacting EU standards.

"Turkey is a great place to do business. In particular, having a direct flight from Birmingham is such an advantage for international trade because it saves time, enables the direct contact necessary to develop business relationships, and makes projects in Turkey easier to oversee than in countries that are harder to reach."

Mr Mathews also visited the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Istanbul and Ankara with Graham Ashmore from UKTI, who organised the delegation, to speak about the opportunities for doing business in the West Midlands.

UKTI international trade adviser Graham Ashmore, who is the international lead for the West Midlands Environmental Technologies Cluster, said: "The successes of International Synergies and Black Country Metals are a great example of what West Midlands companies can achieve in Turkey.

"This market is showing strong growth in many sectors. The automotive sector is thriving, rail investments are planned and ICT and creative industries flourishing. Any West Midlands company that is serious about becoming an international player should give consideration to Turkey."

The next UKTI West Midlands venture in Turkey will be a group visit to Eurasiarail, which is being held in Ankara from March 2-5.

UKTI is also holding a rail-focused seminar on Friday 11 February at the Metal Forming Centre in West Bromwich which will, among other markets, focus on Turkey. Speakers will include a UKTI commercial officer from the Turkish Embassy, who will be advising companies on doing business in this market.