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The Rt. Hon. Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanTPUK International Business Awards |
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It is a very great pleasure to be here this evening, at this prestigious awards ceremony. These awards celebrate success – the success of businesses and individuals from across the UK, whose talent, drive and enterprise have enabled them to compete successfully in the global market. But this ceremony offers more than just an opportunity to recognise the success of our award winners here tonight. It provides an opportunity to mark the continued contribution of British exporters to the success and prosperity of UK plc. Whether they are large corporates or small businesses competing in niche markets around the world, they – you – all contribute to the economic success of the UK as a whole. I am delighted therefore to see so many of you in the audience tonight. The last twelve months has been a difficult time for those engaged in international trade. But you don't need me to tell you that. Global economic growth has been sluggish. The world's major economies slowed significantly and simultaneously last year. And the events of September 11 dealt a further blow to the confidence of many nations and individual businesses, which set back the expected global economic recovery. That position was compounded by terrorist outrages in Bali and, only a couple of weeks ago, in Moscow. And whilst there are now signs that that recovery is happening, it would be foolish to pretend that there are not still real problems remaining. As one of the world's leading trading nations we are not be insulated from the global economic climate. But I don't want to dwell on the difficulties. Quite the opposite. I mention them in part because it is a tribute to the strength, flexibility and resilience of companies in the UK that our export performance has remained strong in spite of those difficulties. We have been accustomed for so long to hearing about the UK's economic problems that we sometimes forget that we are still the world's fifth largest exporter of goods, the world's second largest exporter of services, and the world's second largest overseas investor. Last year we exported goods and services to the value of some £270 billion - some 30 percent of GDP. That is a record that most countries would be proud of. They are major achievements – and they are achievements which are due to the quality of product, inventiveness and sometimes sheer tenacity of businesses and individuals across the UK. Because while governments can set the climate for businesses to develop and thrive, and can provide information and support – at the end of the day it is down to individual businesses and individuals within those businesses as to whether we continue to be one of the world's most successful trading nations. And at this point I should also pay tribute to our hosts this evening: the Export Times and Trade Partners UK – and of course our sponsors, HSBC and Euler Trade Indemnity. Trade Partners UK plays a vital role in helping business to take those first steps into international trade, or to branch into new markets. You would expect me to say that but actually, more often than not, it is what I hear business saying. One of Trade Partners priorities is to help and encourage more businesses to engage in international trade. Indeed, I would go further and say that I would like to see a position where all businesses looked naturally to international markets as a way of expanding their business and improving their competitiveness. I have said something about problems and about the success in spite of these problems but let me also just mention the opportunities. The world is changing at a phenomenal rate. Who would have thought even just a few years ago that we would have been talking about bringing a country like China into the World Trade Organisation – but we are not just talking about it, we have done it. A market which will offer huge opportunities. There are other emerging opportunities too in places like Russia and the Caspian. These are examples of the pace and scale of change in the world today. There will be many others. And we need to be sure that we are constantly geared up to make the most of those opportunities as they emerge. I think we in the business community should make a point of saying how important trade and investment are – they are pivotal to the wealth of both our countries. They generate wealth not only for the private but also for the public sector – wealth that is needed to build schools and hospitals and run the public services that we all need. But I don't need to tell you that. I am talking to the converted – otherwise you wouldn't be here. Thank you. |
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Other speeches by The Rt. Hon. Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
(the following are available from the archive) |
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