: UPDATE brings you a selection of stories on UK-based companies that are trading internationally, as well as the latest initiatives and events from UK Trade & Investment

BOOST ECONOMIC GROWTH INCREASED TRADE WILL

The UK Government has published its strategy to drive global economic growth, through trade and investment, in a White Paper. Highlighting the need to reject protectionism and ensure a greater openness to trade and investment, it urges a new approach where countries support the poorest while capitalising on the opportunities offered by growth. In addition, the strategy calls for a

greater strengthening of the multilateral trading system, including increased engagement within the European Union, World Trade Organisation, G20 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It proposes greater market access for least-developed

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countries, with ambitious bilateral aid programmes that promote trade and regional integration, particularly in Africa, where the UK is launching an Africa Free Trade Initiative. The Government has also proposed an ambitious programme of EU Free Trade Agreements with key trading partners, including India, Canada, Singapore, the South American Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and, it hopes, Japan. The White Paper introduced new schemes to support businesses fi nancially and help them compete on the international stage. This included an Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme,

which offers up to £1m export fi nance to SMEs. Businesses have told Government they fi nd it hard to access insurance when exploring foreign markets, especially in unusual or unpredictable regions. The new schemes address this, and the Export Credits Guarantee Department has extended its Short Term Credit Insurance Scheme to cover a wider range of exports. The Government will work to fi nalise the Doha round of trade negotiations delivering a £110bn boost per year to the global economy. The Foreign & Commonwealth Offi ce and UK Trade & Investment will continue to support British businesses and encourage greater inward investment in the UK.

Photograph: PA Photos | Photolibrary