Local companies can meet the challenge to export more says Chamber

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) is confident that companies in its area can meet the Government’s challenge to boost UK exports. Currently, exports account for 30% of UK GDP, and the plan is to see that grow to 35% of GDP over the next few years.

Ajay Desai, Trade Director at the Chamber said: “Coventry and Warwickshire has a fantastic record in trading overseas and we have absolutely no doubt that we can rise to the challenge of increasing our exports from this region.”

The Government’s strategy is to encourage more firms to seek out new overseas markets by raising the profile of the support available for UK companies to do business abroad. CWCC is on board with this plan and it delivers international trade support services to companies in the region. Already in 2018 Coventry and Warwickshire has achieved £172.11m of export sales through the Department of International Trade support via the Chamber, a figure that is substantially ahead of target.

Desai added: “The new Government strategy is all about ensuring that businesses know that there is help available and that there are markets out there that are ripe for their goods and services. Our job here at the Chamber is to ensure that those companies which already trade overseas look at new opportunities and new markets.”

James Ahearne, International Trade Commercial Executive at the Chamber said: “Of course there is a great deal of discussion and concern around Brexit and, whatever the outcome, it will have an effect on our international trade. But we have to look beyond that as we will still be an exporting nation once we have left the EU and businesses will still require support in those efforts – probably even more so than before.”

“So we would encourage companies to make full use of the services available here at the Chamber to increase our overseas markets and build on the positive reputation the UK has across the world when it comes to exports.”