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URN 12/P65A ISSN: 1758-440X

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welcome to springboard

Almost a year ago the Coalition Government published a plan to put the UK on a path to sustainable, long-term economic growth, which recognised the importance of increasing exports to emerging markets and attracting inward investment. There are some good, positive outcomes. Exports have grown by 13 per cent

over the last year in value terms with spectacular growth in some emerging markets. As announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in November, we are now working to build on the radical programme of reforms set out in the Plan for Growth. Some £45m will be given over the next three years to UK Trade & Investment to double, from 25,000 to 50,000, the number of SMEs reached by its services each year. Of this, £10m will be provided to help 500 mid-sized businesses export more effectively each year. Such fi rms are well positioned to exploit global export opportunities and capitalise on the strong reputation of the UK brand in international markets. In addition, under a new National Infrastructure Plan, billions of pounds of new capital investment will be channelled to more than 500 proposed infrastructure projects in sectors such as transport, energy, education, science, telecommunications, water and waste. The Government is also launching a package of up to £21bn of credit-easing

measures to support smaller and mid-sized businesses that do not have ready access to capital markets. The package will include the introduction of a National Loan Guarantee Scheme, which will allow banks to offer lower-cost lending to smaller businesses with turnover of up to £50m, and a Business Finance Partnership, which will invest in smaller and mid-sized companies in the UK through non-bank channels. These measures aim to make a real impact on business growth, helping the

UK to attract increasing levels of high-value inward investment and enhancing the ability of UK companies to take advantage of business opportunities in global markets. This issue of springboard highlights some of these opportunities, including

those in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia; Eastern Europe’s fast-growing Poland and Ukraine; and the UK’s biggest export market, the US. Insights are also given on the UK’s successful education and offshore wind sectors, while UK Trade & Investment’s chief executive Nick Baird gives his assessment of the UK’s export prospects. Trade and investment are vital for helping to stimulate the UK’s economy and

growth. I am confi dent that the Government’s initiatives will encourage and support companies in their international business activities.

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