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https://ukti.blog.gov.uk/2012/02/24/europe-and-the-export-challenge-500-for-the-north-east/

Europe and the Export Challenge : 500 for the North East

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Export, New Exporters

I attended an event in Gosforth yesterday with about 150 delegates discussing "North East England's role in a Global Europe", sponsored by North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) , UKTI and the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) amongst others.

UKTI was well represented with International Trade Advisers and Directors from overseas posts  attending. I was keen to really see if Europe was in crisis  given the Euro situation, Greece, government deficits, etc .

His Excellency Georg Boomgaarden, German Ambassador to the UK, spoke very well about the German Mittelstand model, the Lander (German regions) and the strong role that regional government and regional business plays in Germany. He highlighted how the North East's strong location provided good opportunities for trade and investment links with Northern Europe and the Baltics .

The German, French and Swedish Consuls all spoke about 'commercial diplomacy' - reinforced by Jenny Gardner, Director of UKTI in Sweden. Commercial contracts are the business logistics on a day to day basis but the fabric of diplomacy around a commercial contract is equally important, so it was good to see Consuls, the Ambassador, businesses and local government coming together to put commercial diplomacy into context.

The Chair of North East LEP Paul Woolston (PWC Partner) also covered many aspects of the new regional landscape and the crucial role the LEP is playing in supporting trade and investment in the North East.

I was keen to shine a light on a part of Europe that is often overlooked. With a growing GDP (+4% last year), 100 million consumers and a GDP per head over $20k, Central and Eastern Europe has tremendous opportunities to offer. Billion dollar contracts are being let in many sectors including healthcare, nuclear energy, civil infrastructure and rail.

Representatives of the Chambers of Commerce of Lithuania, France and Germany also spoke about the importance of being connected regionally - food for thought for the LEP 's. James Ramsbotham, CEO for the NECC also highlighted the key role the Chamber can play in bringing together the regional linkages, so important across Europe going forward given the changes to the UK's regional landscape.

Europe in Crisis? Well all parts of Europe (us!)  face challenges. Georg Boomgaarden reminded me of the Ruhr Valley, a region not dissimilar to the North East, which had lots of historic industrial activity, needed significant Federal support over an extended period of time and is now a thriving, regional, diversified economy. 

My challenge for the North East continues to be one built on the success of significant export growth in the last few years. We need 500 new SME's to engage internationally and begin exporting. And where better than Europe, where we have not just national linkages, but fantastic inter-regional linkages, local patrnerships and cultural connections?

500 new exporters will begin to lift the North East towards the international benchmark of the SME exporting community - the best in class being the 25% of SMEs that export from Germany.

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