Press release: 26,000 Welsh businesses will be directly targeted with support to increase exports

The UK Government will directly contact 26,000 Welsh businesses and provide support to help them export their goods and services.

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns announced today that he will be writing to 26,000 Welsh businesses that have been identified as potential exporters and sending them a copy of a dedicated exporting guide for Welsh businesses.

Wales is already an exporting nation. In 2016, 4,000 companies took their first forays into the global market at a value of £12.4 billion. Across the UK, exports contribute over £570 billion to GDP annually.

The Wales Export Guide, sets out the full range of support available to Welsh businesses from the UK Government and contains inspiring stories of companies based in Wales that are successfully exporting. Alun Cairns hopes that businesses will recognise the huge potential available to help them invest and grow.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

I want Welsh businesses to get out into the wider world, to trade and do business all around the globe. That is why we are sharing the advice, guidance and support available from the UK Government, in particular from the Department for International Trade, for businesses in our Wales Export Guide. We want to help them to build their brand abroad as we continue to increase UK exports and encourage inward investment.

The Welsh Secretary will make the announcement on a visit to mid Wales based global success story Nidec Control Techniques. He will visit Control Techniques global HQ in Newtown, as the UK Government works to give maximum legal certainty for businesses, workers and investors whilst the UK prepares to leave the European Union.

Nidec Control Techniques designs and manufactures electric motor control technology for industry. With multiple offices in over 20 countries world-wide, its almost 500-strong staff based in Newtown play a key role in delivering for a customer base that spans Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Mr Cairns added:

Nidec Control Techniques is a prime example of a global company that is demonstrating confidence in the business environment in Wales. As we begin the process of leaving the EU, it is vital that we look to provide companies like this with the certainty they need to maintain their investment.

Japan is one of the UK’s key economic partners and second largest inward investor. We want to see our partnership continue to grow and flourish. That is why I am embarking on a series of visits to global companies based here in Wales to provide the reassurance that this is a country that is just as outward looking and ambitious as ever before.

It is our priority as a Government to continue to focus on creating the right conditions for economic growth. In light of yesterday’s announcement from Tesco we must endeavour to retain jobs, promote business opportunities in Wales and to ensure our country remains a competitive place to do business.

Rhidian Wilson, Vice President and General Manager at Control Techniques, said:

We are grateful to the Secretary of State for visiting us, and we welcome his reassurance that the Government will work with industry to improve our opportunities.

Control Techniques is at an exciting point in its history under its new Japanese owners, Nidec, and we want to ensure Wales remains a cost effective manufacturing location now and in the future.

We also welcome the Secretary of State’s ideas around helping engineering firms attract and retain high calibre talent in Mid Wales, as well as ensuring opportunities are available to educate and inspire future generations. This is crucial to ensuring global companies like ours can continue to compete on the global stage.

Mr Cairns will also deliver a keynote speech at the Wales Technology Awards in Cardiff on Thursday evening as part of the UK Government’s support for the Wales Innovation Festival.

He added:

In Wales we design, develop, manufacture and integrate some of the world’s most advanced technologies essential to most other industry sectors. Our work underpins innovation and development across many different markets which is critical to our trade and investment success.

Notes to editors

• The Secretary of State will deliver the keynote speech at ESTNET Wales Technology Awards 2017 on Thursday 22 June at the Wales Millennium Centre.