Partner Article

PM urges NE firms to ?take it to the world?

North East companies joined 100 fellow exporters from across the UK at a reception at 10 Downing Street this week.

They were invited to Number 10 by the Prime Minister in recognition of their business success in overseas markets and their contribution to the UK economy.

Companies exporting British talent and products - from electric car chargers to airport security technology, classic British foods to flame retardant fabrics – discussed their successes and concerns with the Prime Minister. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Minister for Trade, Investment and Business, Lord Davies also took questions from the businesses on what Government is doing to help UK exporters during the downturn.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the business people: “I want to thank you for everything you are doing for the British economy, for British exports, and for British confidence. All of you here are successful businesses. All of you have made important innovations in the way you do business. Many of you are helping this country through one of the most difficult financial periods and doing so by increasing your growth rates and making sure that the economy can remain strong for the future.”

Lord Mandelson said: “In my department, and in the government as a whole, we are passionate, to the point of obsessive, about exports. They are where Britain chiefly makes its living in the world economy. The global economic recovery is going to be led more by investment and exports than any early expansion of consumer demand.”

Lord Davies said: “It is important to recognise British exporting success. The companies here today show the range of businesses in the UK taking their talents to the world. But we must encourage more firms to export.”

Local companies that attended included Gate7 from Gateshead, Kromek of Sedgefield, and She’s Gott It, a Durham events company.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .