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For PSP Rare acting editor: Daska Davis email daska.davis@psprare.co.uk consultant executive editor: David Parsley editorial contributors: Lorraine Shah, Janet Tibble art director: Colin Goad production director: Emma Elmer publisher and circulation director: Shalene Varcoe group advertisement manager: Dan Jefferson tel 020 7566 9918 email dan.jefferson@psprare.co.uk repro: Wyndeham pre-press print: PCP

For UK Trade & Investment managing editor: David Lines email david.lines@ukti.gsi.gov.uk

springboard magazine is published by PSP Rare on behalf of UK Trade & Investment. PSP Rare, 21-22 Great Sutton Street, London EC1V 0DY tel 020 7566 9910 website www.psprare.co.uk email springboard@psprare.co.uk

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The British economy is recovering from the worst crisis since the 1930s. Nurturing and encouraging growth in the UK is the priority for the Coalition Government, and a key element of that will be boosting trade and investment. The banking collapse and recession was particularly severe in the

UK but it was a global shock. Britain is a small part of the global economy, much of which is recovering fast. We will prosper by exploiting growth opportunities in expanding markets. At present our exports are doing relatively well but, helped by a competitive exchange rate, we need to expand the areas where we are world beating – which currently include advanced manufacturing, creative industries, fi nancial and professional services. In addition, we must retain our position as the destination of choice

for international businesses: we are currently the world’s second largest recipient of FDI and the recent news of big investment in steel by SSI and in the car industry supply chain by Tata (Jaguar Land Rover), Ford, GM-Vauxhall, Nissan and others is very encouraging. The Coalition Government has just launched the Trade and Investment

White Paper which outlines our strategy to meet the challenge ahead. It sets out specifi c measures to help support SMEs with a new range of short-term export and trade products, and it explains how Ministers and offi cials across government aim to create the best possible environment here in the UK for trade and inward investment. It urges more business people across the country to seize the

opportunities presented by trade and international investment to innovate and to build their businesses. More broadly, it underlines the Government’s support for both the Doha agenda, for ambitious free trade agreements with Korea, India, Japan and Mercosur countries, and for reinvigorating the EU Single Market. The new Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Green,

will have an important role to play. Also helping the Government is a newly formed network of infl uential business ambassadors who will help to promote the credentials of UK plc across the globe. While Government can provide support, it recognises that,

ultimately, it is down to British companies to grasp the nettle and take advantage of the growing range of global markets to sell their goods and services.

Views expressed in springboard are not necessarily those of UK Trade & Investment or the publishers. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply offi cial endorsement of the products or services concerned. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of editorial content, no responsibility can be taken for errors and/or omissions.

URN 11/P65b ISSN: 1758-440X

Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

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