Cookie Notice
Original creation date, September 13th, 2016 - Revision date May 21st, 2026.
What is a cookie?
Cookies are small text files placed on your computer and are commonly used on the internet. There are various types of cookies which perform different functions, such as analysing a user's browsing behaviour or recording a user's navigation of a website so that when a user revisits that site, the site owner can present tailored options to the user based on the stored information about previous visits.
We use cookies to implement and remember user preferences and also to monitor site user traffic and usage. This helps us to understand how visitors use our website so that we can develop and improve the design, layout and functionality of the website.
Accepting or rejecting cookies
Most web browsers will accept cookies, but if you would prefer that we not collect data by this method, you can disable this function within your browser settings. If you want to delete any cookies that are already on your computer, please refer to the instructions for your web browser software to delete cookies and disable their use.
For more information about cookies, including further information about deleting or disabling cookies, please visit:
We use cookies to:
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collect information that will help us to distinguish visitors, to implement language preferences on our website and to improve their experience;
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compile statistical reports on website activity through analytics cookies, e.g. numbers of visitors and the pages they visit;
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remember information about you when you visit our website.
Below, we have set out the three categories of cookies that we use on our website.
These cookies are:
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Strictly necessary cookies
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Performance cookies
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Functionality cookies
Our website also includes third-party cookies, which are cookies not set by VDK™ Solutions. For each of the three categories above, you can find descriptions of the cookies below.
Strictly necessary cookies
These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the website. Without these cookies, services you have asked for, such as logging into your account or customer profile, cannot be provided. These cookies do not gather information about you that could be used for marketing or remembering where you have been on the internet. AUTH_COOKIE – this cookie is used to track a user's login and enable the user to access the secure section of the website.
Performance cookies
These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance, which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. We use a number of analytics web cookies, which are set out below. These analytics cookies allow us to record information such as the number of visitors to the website (new and repeat visitors), duration on the site, number of registration completions, entry and exit page of the user; all of which enable us to see how visitors use the website so that we can improve the way that our website works. These cookies do not collect personal information that identifies a visitor, as the information contained is anonymous; some will track a user's IP addresses to provide us with information about which companies are accessing our website.
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SC_ANALYTICS_SESSION_COOKIE – this analytics cookie is provided by Sitecore. It records which pages of the website you visit and how long you stay on it. We use this information to help improve our website. This cookie is not used to identify individuals using the website.
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SC_ANALYTICS_GLOBAL – this analytics cookie is provided by Sitecore. It tracks a visitor’s multiple visits to our website in one year. We use this information to help improve our website. This cookie is not used to identify individuals using the website.
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Google Analytics cookie ("_utma/b/z2) – this analytics cookie is provided by Google and allows us to measure and analyse visitor information such as browser usage, visitor numbers, and which pages are used. We use this information to help improve our website. The information generated by this cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google.
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Yandex Analytics cookie ("_utma/b/z2) – this analytics cookie is provided by Yandex and allows us to measure and analyse visitor information such as browser usage, visitor numbers, and which pages are used. We use this information to help improve our website. The information generated by this cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Yandex.
These cookies may be changed if the functionality of the website changes.
Functionality cookies
These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you are in) and provide enhanced features. The information these cookies collect is usually anonymised. They do not gather any information about you that could be used for advertising or remember where you have been on the internet.
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USE_COOKIES – this cookie is placed to recognise when a user has permitted the use of site cookies.
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PREFERRED_SITE - this cookie is used to track a user's preferred country.
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website#lang – this cookie is provided by Sitecore. This cookie tracks a user's language selection. The name of the cookie varies based on the configured site name (e.g. vdk_int#lang_ENG-eng).
These cookies may be changed if the functionality of the website changes.
Web Beacons
We may also use pixel technology (also known as "web beacons" or "clear GIF's") in our emails. These web beacons can be used in conjunction with information collected via cookies to identify our users and personalise the website and our services whenever possible, and to track the success of marketing campaigns.
For example, if a user has opened an email from us containing web beacons and has accepted cookies on our website, we can: find out when the user has opened our email; welcome the user back personally to our website; and track which pages of our website the user visits.
If you object to web beacons, we recommend that you follow the instructions for deleting existing cookies and disabling future cookies in your browser.
This policy may be updated from time to time.
Please note that if you disable cookies, the website functionality may be impaired and you may not be able to access certain areas or features of our site.
If you have any questions about VDK™ Solutions' Cookies Policy, please contact us. "Get in Touch" →
BRICS used to be a financial acronym. Now it’s a geopolitical and economic reality. And it’s grown: as of February 2026, BRICS includes 11 nations, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE. These countries aren’t just consuming, they’re producing, innovating, and exporting at scale. Their combined population exceeds 3 billion. Their internal trade is rising. Their infrastructure investments are massive. They’re creating ecosystems where local companies thrive and go global. If your strategy still sees them only as destinations for Western goods, you’re missing half the picture. They’re competitors. They’re partners. They’re the future.
Meet the New Export Leaders
Call it China’s grand design or call it global connectivity, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is reshaping how goods move, how markets connect, and how businesses grow. Cambridge research confirms what we see on the ground: BRI is lowering trade barriers across Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and parts of Latin America. New rail links, ports, logistics hubs, and digital corridors are being built, not just to serve China, but to integrate entire regions into faster, cheaper, more efficient networks. For forward-thinking exporters, this means access to previously unreachable consumers, suppliers, and distribution channels. Ignore BRI, and you risk being bypassed by those who use it.
The Belt and Road Initiative Isn’t Just Infrastructure, It’s Opportunity
Forget linear trade routes and predictable demand. The global export landscape has been turned upside down. Old power centres are adjusting. New ones are setting the pace. China isn’t just making goods; it’s financing ports, rail lines, and energy grids across continents. India and Indonesia are building domestic capacity while scaling exports. Even smaller players are leveraging digital platforms to compete globally overnight. VDK’s research shows one truth clearly: if you're not actively mapping this new terrain, you're operating blind. Understanding the shift isn't merely academic; it's a matter of strategic survival.
Export Is No Longer What You Think
The European Union remains a powerhouse exporter, not because of legacy status, but because of precision, quality, and integration. Its edge lies in high-value engineering, clean tech, healthcare innovations, and trusted brands. But here’s the key: the EU is no longer just trading within itself or with North America. It’s deepening ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a region flush with capital, modernising fast, and hungry for expertise in infrastructure, sustainability, and smart cities. These aren’t transactional deals. They’re long-term partnerships built on mutual need. For EU exporters, the GCC isn’t just a market, it’s a launchpad.
Europe Still Leads, But It’s Playing Smarter
Global trade today looks nothing like it did 20 years ago. It’s not driven by Western dominance alone; it’s powered by emerging economies, infrastructure megaprojects, and strategic alliances that bypass traditional gatekeepers. At VDK™ Corporate Development, we’ve tracked these shifts from the front lines. Our insight? Exporting isn’t just an option for growth, it’s the core engine of long-term survival. We focus on real movement: EU exports flowing into GCC countries, BRICS expanding manufacturing reach, and BRI-linked nations opening doors once closed. This isn’t theory. It’s what winning looks like now, and what preparation must look like tomorrow.
The Real Global Marketplace
Successfully expand operations into complex markets (e.g., GCC states) through meticulous market research, regulatory navigation, and the assurance of a smooth, compliant entry process.
Secure your competitive edge through comprehensive IP protection strategies, including EU patent and trademark registration combined with GCC member state grants and licensing agreement guidance.
Equip your teams with bespoke cross-cultural training, leading to smoother negotiations, stronger international relationships, and improved overall business effectiveness.