Let’s make Britain an export superpower – Fox

LIAM Fox will today pledge to make Britain a ‘21st century exporting superpower’ after Brexit.

The International Trade Secretary will urge the country to ‘set its sights high’ as he outlines a strategy to boost the sales of domestic goods and services overseas.

Official figures released in June showed exports hit a record £620billion last year, accounting for 30 per cent of UK GDP. mr Fox will call for Britain to reach a figure of 35 per cent after ties are cut with Brussels.

In a speech to a business audience in London today about the export strategy, he is expected to say: ‘UK businesses are superbly placed to capitalise on the rapid changes in the global economic environment and I believe the UK has the potential to be a 21st century exporting superpower. As an international economic department, we are determined to support, connect and grow UK companies on the world stage through our international network.

‘As we leave the EU, we must set our sights high and that is just what this export strategy will help us achieve.’

mike Cherry, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said the Government’s export strategy is ‘strong on aspiration’ and welcomed the commitment to increase exports as a proportion of GDP and other measures which could support small firms.

He added: ‘Incentives like export vouchers and grants should be made available to small businesses to help them with upfront investment costs for things like translation services or additional market research.

‘An assessment of financial incentives, including export vouchers, as mentioned in the strategy, is a step in the right direction, but we are fast running out of time.

‘The clock is ticking. If the Government doesn’t act quickly and introduce financial incentives there is a risk the current uncertainty will have a serious and detrimental impact on the growth of small businesses.’