Pictured above: (l-r) Sir Bernard Zissman and son Jeremy Zissman

A new company launches this week linking the businesses of the West Midlands direct to the eastern seaboard of the United States of America.

Overseas Connections Group is establishing dual bases in WashingtonDC, capital city of the USA and Birmingham in the heart of the UK with the objective of giving local companies the opportunity to expand their business into the USA but who may not have the expertise, relationships or resources to develop trans-Atlantic business. Setting up the company is Jeremy Zissman, formerly from Birmingham, educated at SolihullSchool and BrunelUniversity, a qualified CPA and currently leading a financial services business in the Washington area. The Birmingham office will be led by Jeremy's father, Sir Bernard Zissman who is well known in the city, and continues to be involved with a number of SME businesses in both the Midlands and London.

Overseas Connections aims to provide ambitious growth businesses with a range of cost-effective services which include:

· Representation with a 'local' address, and contact points

· Identification of target markets and companies

· Tax advice, billing and collection service, banking and cash transfers back to the UK

· Full administrative support and meeting facilities.

As members of the Midlands British American Business Council, Overseas Connections Group will link directly into those local companies which have a clear interest in doing business in the US.

Managing Partner, Jeremy Zissman, said: "This idea has been some time in the development stage and as the US economy is now moving in an upward direction the opportunity for UK companies to promote their products and services could not be better timed. Overseas Connections will provide a tailored service - something my family were once known for in Birmingham - to those entrepreneurial businesses for which the city is well known throughout the world."

Sir Bernard Zissman adds: "We really want to assist companies with ambitions to expand their business and compete with larger enterprises. OCG unlocks the potential for SMEs that are focused on growth to add a multi-national offering to their profile. Our experience and knowledge of businesses in the Midlands, coupled with our understanding of the US market, means we are best placed to provide the necessary support, contacts and valuable information."