Livingston targets MSBs for export help on maiden NW visit

NEW international trade minister Lord Livingston was making his first visit to the North West today, where he met successful exporters, and challenged other firns to follow their lead.

The former BT boss, who was appointed in December, met staff and management at Tenmat in Trafford Park, which has bases in the US, France and Italy and earns 80% its revenue from abroad.

He also visited 3M in Chadderton, whose manufacturing operations for Europe are based at the site and Proseal in Adlington, Cheshire, which has operations in Australia, the USA and Canada and generated £5m in exports last year.

Lord Livingston recently pledged to boost the help UKTI provides to medium-sized businesses (MSBs)  – the North West has 870 such firms – and provide a relationship manager for all those who require export assistance.

He also promised to step up support for small companies wishing to export and to increase awareness of the services that Government can offer, through targeted marketing and improved web access.
 
He said: “Improving export performance is vital to building a sustainable recovery, and a fundamental part of the government’s economic plan.
 
“I am very happy to be in the North West, hearing from companies who are at the forefront of the export drive.  The North West has the third largest number of MSBs in the country, and we are actively supporting this hugely important sector , as well as the many new exporters in the region.”
 
The Minister will also meet UKTI’s regional team and representatives from MIDAS, the Chamber of Commerce and Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership.