Helen Grant MP

In my former career as a business owner there came a point where I started looking for sales opportunities abroad. It was a fraught with risk but happily my experiences proved both profitable and rewarding in many different ways.

Now, as we edge closer to Brexit, the development of new international markets for business will be crucial if our economy is to survive and flourish. That is why Theresa May created the Department for International Trade (DIT) immediately after her appointment as PM. Last year the South East exported £40m of goods (excluding services) with almost half going to EU member states. To achieve healthy market diversification much progress is therefore certainly needed.

There are many businesses in Maidstone and the Weald that could benefit from exporting, and not just through increased sales. Exporters of all sizes are shown to be more productive, more innovative, have greater resilience to economic downturns, achieve a stronger bottom line and are more likely to remain in business.

Accordingly the DIT has just launched a website www.great.gov. uk to support companies looking to export goods or services. The site enables firms to promote their wares to international buyers and gives business owners access to preferential deals negotiated by the DIT with a number of online