NewsCase StudiesEvents

FCO and UKTI welcome NAO report supporting UK exporters

Also in the news...

UK and Switzerland's negotiations for an enhanced trade agreement

UK-Switzerland enhanced free trade agreement negotiations

Information on key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Hong Kong.

Guidance Overseas business risk for Hong Kong

Local sites and numbers of employees linked to businesses involved in international trade in goods, by subnational areas of the UK 2022

The release reports on the number of local sites and the number of employees within each ITL3 area linked to a business carrying out international trade in goods.

Foreign travel advice Sudan

FCDO advises against all travel to Sudan.

Foreign Secretary pushes for closer cooperation with Thailand

David Cameron heads to Thailand, one of the biggest economies in south-east Asia, for his first visit as Foreign Secretary to the Indo-Pacific region.

FCO and UKTI welcome NAO report supporting UK exporters

Back to News

FCO and UKTI are supporting UK prosperity and growth by helping British business to export more overseas.

Today, the National Audit Office (NAO) published its report on “Supporting UK exporters overseas”. It examines how the FCO and UKTI are helping British business overseas.

Minister of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire said:

The NAO report sets out what the FCO and UKTI are doing to meet the Government’s ambition to double UK exports to £1 trillion by 2020, as part of our broader determination to refocus our efforts towards growth.

We believe that the FCO has a vital role in helping British business to succeed in the global race, from supporting our exporters overseas to pressing for open markets around the world. The report highlights steps we have already taken, from targeting more resources at priority markets, to increasing commercial training for staff.

But there is always more we can do, and we welcome recommendations as to how we might improve our performance. We will be looking closely at these and working with UKTI to deliver the best possible contribution to British export success.

Lord Green, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, said:

The NAO’s report highlights the key role UKTI and the FCO are playing in helping more British businesses to export and the results are coming through already. Since 2010 exports to China have increased by 91% and exports to Russia are up by 118%.

We are working hard to achieve our ambition of doubling exports to £1 trillion and getting 100,000 more UK companies exporting by shifting the focus of our staff, working in the UK and in embassies around the world, towards targeting high-value opportunities.

We are also providing more support and advice for UK small and medium sized businesses by establishing a global business network and opening British Business Centres in key markets across the world including India, China and UAE.

However we want to go even further and UKTI will work with the Foreign Office to implement the report’s recommendations.

gov.uk

You are not logged in!

Please login or register to ask our experts a question.

Login now or register.