Andrew Rissik, managing director of the Southampton-based LG digital phone systems dealer Network Digital Communications Ltd, commended the three students who made a presentation relating to his company at Southampton Institute.

As part of their Year 3 BA Honours International business curriculum, Nurcan Gezer, Idil Pora and Kelly Rawlinson had to recommend to a business that did not export, a way of viably trading with another country. The students, who hope to find employment in the region when they leave the institute this summer, approached Andrew at NDC to see if they could use the company for the study.

As NDC specialises in the installation of the latest LG digital phone systems and least cost routing to increase efficiency and save communication overheads for businesses, the students realised that there was an opportunity to export the older phone systems that are replaced to a country that still has analogue telephone networks. Contacts were made after researching South Africa and Hymax, an LG dealer was found, supplied information and helped to provide figures regarding resell values that could be expected.

"Nurcan, Idil and Kelly found that the idea to export the second- hand equipment is feasible even when transportation costs are included," says Andrew Rissik. "We are now considering the

package as an option."