New support for UK's world-leading agri-food and drink industry
Network of agri-food and drink attaches to be placed in key global markets to promote trade and boost exports.
- Support comes ahead of Small Business Saturday, a scheme to encourage consumers to shop small in the run-up to Christmas
- Agri-food & drink specialists to be placed in key markets to promote Global Britain鈥檚 world-leading produce
- Plan to boost UK鈥檚 food and drink exports worth 拢21.7 billion in 2020, helping to level up communities across Britain through global trade
The Government has today announced further measures to support the UK鈥檚 world-leading agri-food and drink sector, helping them to build back better from the pandemic and thrive in a Global Britain.
The Government will add eight new agri-food and drink attach茅s in priority markets, as part of a wider plan to boost exports, further unlock barriers to trade and open up new exporting opportunities around the world.
As well as posts in China, USA, India, Canada and Mexico, the agri-food attach茅s will be covering growth markets in the Gulf, Africa, South America and the Asia-Pacific region. There will also be additional capacity and resource in Europe, as Government鈥檚 key market.
Existing attach茅s in China and the UAE have been pivotal in securing access for a greater range of products, driving export growth and building mutually supportive relationships with trading partners. Attach茅s are based in UK embassies and consulates overseas and have long-standing expertise in the agri-food and drink sector.
UK Government has a key role to play in supporting businesses grow their exports in global markets. The new attach茅 roles will help to reduce and remove trade barriers, broaden market access and support companies as they increase their market share in established and emerging international markets.
Secretary of State for International Trade, Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP said:
From Scottish salmon and Welsh Lamb to Northern Irish beef and English sparkling wine, our food and drink is recognised at home and abroad for its great taste and high quality.
Today鈥檚 announcement will showcase the very best that the UK has to offer on a global stage, boost jobs in our food and drink sector and help to level up every part of the UK.
鈥淢y department is supporting UK businesses on their export journey. From our Export Support Service to Export Champions, we want businesses all over the UK to have the tools to take advantage of the ambitious trade deals we are signing with countries across the world.鈥�
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
We want people at home and abroad to be lining up to buy British.
The support announced today will enable our farmers and food and drink producers to take advantage of new opportunities and fly the flag for UK produce around the world.
This follows the recent successful launch of DIT鈥檚 鈥楳ade in the UK, Sold to the World鈥� campaign, which saw a range of measures to support UK businesses in their exporting journey and deliver on the aim of exporting a trillion pounds鈥� worth of goods and services by 2030.
Today鈥檚 announcement also follows the International Trade Secretary鈥檚 keynote speech at the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Trade last week, where she set out the UK鈥檚 trade strategy that will seize the economic opportunities of a changing global economy, boosting jobs across the UK.
The UK鈥檚 food and drink industry exports totalled 拢21.7 billion in 2020, including 拢1.8 billion worth of exports to the USA and 拢257 million to the UAE.