Ronald Reagan once joked that the ten most frightening words in the English language were: "Hello, I’m from the Government and I’m here to help!"
Although coming from the Government myself, I have had a long career in the private sector - almost entirely in international trade - and I would like to assure you that these words, far from being frightening, could be your gateway to success in exports.
In recent years, the prospect of becoming an exporter has become a reality for even more SMEs thanks to the work of UKT, and iniatives such as the upcoming national Export Week.
Exports are significantly helping to boost our economy. The latest HMRC statistics reveal that the South East continues to be the biggest regional exporter, with the total exports for the first half of the year valued at £22.66 billion.
It is for this reason that I encourage businesses in the South East to engage with the free and impartial advice offered by UKTI, find a market suited to their product and hitch their wagon to some of the world’s most lucrative and profitable markets.
The fast growing economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America represent some of the most exciting of these opportunities. With growth rates of 7, 8 or even 9%, these economies are undoubtedly becoming bigger and bigger players in the global market. In ten years’ time the world’s population will have grown by a further 1 billion people, almost all of them in these economies. The most successful businesses of the future will be those that are able to reach the many millions of potential new customers in these markets.
As UKTI’s Regional Director here in the South East, it’s my job to ensure that these opportunities are being exploited by businesses from Oxfordshire to Hampshire and from Buckinghamshire to Kent. Independent research has shown that entering overseas markets can help you make your firm more flexible, resilient and, crucially, more profitable. Working with UKTI can hopefully bring this about more rapidly.
UKTI is doing a great deal in the South East to ensure that businesses get exporting. We are working closely with partners in the public and private sector - from Chambers of Commerce to banks, from the CBI to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
We recently signed Memorandum of Understandings with two LEPs, ‘Coast to Capital’ who cover Brighton and Hove, the London Borough of Croydon, Gatwick Diamond, Lewes and West Sussex and ‘Enterprise M3’ who operate in the M3 corridor between Hampshire and Surrey.
Our joint aim is to work together to support the businesses across these areas and the whole of the South East region in all matters of international trade.
We will work together to provide a rolling programme of workshops and trade fairs for businesses seeking to export and signpost SMEs to the help they need so we can double the value of exports by 2020. Our shared vision is to make the region a major centre for internationally-focused, highly competitive businesses that have a global reputation to match.
Across the South East we can offer the expertise of over forty international trade advisers, each of whom have their own specialism. And we’re plugged into UKTI’s global network based in Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates in over 100 countries across the world. So even if our local team can’t directly help they can put you in touch with someone who can.
It is my hope that by working closely with partners, we take another step towards meeting the national target of 100,000 new exporters in the next seven years.
To find out more about Export Week and sign up for events, visit http://www.exportweek.ukti.gov.uk
2 comments
Comment by Abe Marrache posted on
Aside from traditional markets like the USA, UAE, Saudi etc. wherever in the World there's a new, growing Middle Class, there's a market for British products. It's all too easy to get stuck on acronyms like BRICS, CIVETS, MINTS etc. but a relatively uncomplicated analysis of new wealth creation from the statistics of the OECD and the like, can lead our manufacturers to markets where their specific products will increasingly be in demand.
Moreover, I feel we undervalue the importance of the MADE IN BRITAIN marque, which still commands greater respect abroad than we seem to give it domestically. It continues to be regarded as a measure of good engineering and quality manufacturing, the result of centuries of trade bearing that imprint and it could usefully be revitalised, when we export.
Comment by Abe Marrache posted on
Aside from traditional markets like the USA, UAE, Saudi etc. wherever in the World there's a new, growing Middle Class, there's a market for British products. It's all too easy to get stuck on acronyms like BRICS, CIVETS, MINTS etc. but a relatively uncomplicated analysis of new wealth creation from the statistics of the OECD and the like, can lead our manufacturers to markets where their specific products will increasingly be in demand.
Moreover, I feel we undervalue the importance of the MADE IN BRITAIN marque, which still commands greater respect abroad than we seem to give it domestically. It continues to be regarded as a measure of good engineering and quality manufacturing, the result of centuries of trade bearing that imprint and it could usefully be revitalised, when we export.