Member Article

Trading up in the North West

Last year, exports out of the North West reached an all time high in the first quarter, valued at £6.8bn, while data suggests a total £18bn of exports out of the region for the year. Although there is still a way to go before the North West can compete with the likes of the South East and London, the region is narrowing the gap.

With support from organisations like the North West Fund, who invested £32m last year, and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), which offers support and advice to business with export ambitions, the region is becoming continually stronger.

Speaking in Manchester on Thursday, international trade advisor, Peter Gawne-Cain, from UKTI identified the North West’s strengths and future opportunities for businesses.

“Oil and gas, wind energy, transformers, the power sector, copper, finance, creative media…the list goes on. The North West is really strong in a wide range of sectors. Europe of course is a big one for us, especially in the energy sector, and the Middle East too.”

Germany, France and Ireland are amongst the North West’s biggest customers, despite ongoing issues in the Eurozone. Countries further afield such as Japan and Turkey, however, are presenting more opportunities that appeal to the region’s strengths.

Mr Gawne-Cain said: “Following the Japanese crisis, there’s a huge decommissioning aspect, which the North West is particularly strong in. There’s an enormous amount of work going on with the NIA (Nuclear Industry Association) and UKTI to actually promote UK speciality in decommissioning, where we’re ahead of the world.”

“Also, it’s interesting how Turkey is of increasing interest. They have major problems with water and waste water management. They have to bring up their standards because they’re going to be bidding for the european union at some point.”

When compared with other regions, the North West is certainly fighting its corner. Exports out of the area were higher than Yorkshire, the North East, South West and the East Midlands last year; a track record the region hopes to continue.

Mr Gawne-Cain continued: “The UK’s export isn’t very good when you compare it with countries like Germany. It’s certainly got to improve, and the North West particularly has got to continue its improvement. I say continue because it has grown its exports over several years and this year has been particularly successful.

“The North West is doing very well when compared with other regions. Of course the South East and London are far ahead, but the rest, we’ve caught up with.”

Clive Drinkwater, UKTI’s regional director for the North West, commented: “There’s a real breadth of businesses in the North West, many of which have something unique to offer customers in other countries. The USA and China continue to be among the countries where we export the most, but we’ve also seen an increase in the number of goods we sell to European Union countries like France and Germany.

“It’s great to see that goods produced by North West businesses are appreciated by people all over the world.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .