Government announces launch of Northern Powerhouse International week

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox today has launched the Northern Powerhouse International Week.

This will comprise of five days of activity designed to highlight northern enterprise, innovation and global connectivity.

Encouraging northern businesses to export, grow and make global connections, the Department for International Trade (DIT) has helped secure exports worth more than £58bn in the year to September 2017 from companies based in the north of England.

The DIT has also helped attract foreign investment creating 15,000 new jobs in 2016-17.

Dr Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary, said: “I am delighted to launch Northern Powerhouse International Week, celebrating the global success of companies of all sizes based in the north.

“With exports from the region reaching over £58bn last year, the north is now recognised around the world as a centre for excellence and innovation.

“My international economic department will continue to help build on the strengths of the north – providing support to businesses throughout their export journey and working hard to attract even more foreign investment into the Northern Powerhouse.”

The International Week is part of a series of events supporting the government’s aim to boost the Northern Powerhouse economy by investing in education and skills, enterprise, innovation, connectivity, transport, culture and trade and investment.

The Week will see three separate trade missions of northern businesses, 49 in total, to India and the UAE.

A delegation of international TV executives will also attend the BBC Worldwide Showcase in Liverpool from 18th – 21st February, with around 700 buyers viewing thousands of hours of content in specially constructed digi booths.

In addition, the Northern Powerhouse Export Awards 2018 are set to take place on 22nd February, bringing together exporters from across the Northern Powerhouse to celebrate their export achievements.

New Northern Powerhouse branding is also being displayed across key locations in the north including Manchester and Newcastle airports to showcase the global connections and opportunities within the region.

During the week, northern companies will travel to Gulfood in Dubai, the world’s largest food trade show, to demonstrate the North’s food and drink sector where exports reached £3bn in the year to September 2017.

Pharmaceutical businesses will also be heading on a life sciences mission to India, and a tech delegation will visit Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore.

In each of these three trade missions DIT expects the companies to sign deals and achieve export wins.

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