News story

PM urges business ambassadors to promote British trade

Prime Minister David Cameron has hosted a meeting of business ambassadors at Downing Street with Lord Green, his new trade minister, to discuss how the government can boost Britain's export market.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Addressing the ambassadors for the first time, Mr Cameron stressed the importance of trade to the UK economy, telling the group that the priority is “growth, growth, growth”.

The PM urged them to “sell Britain” to the rest of the world as countries such as China, India and Brazil developed apace.

Mr Cameron said:

I really want this to be a very active Government in making sure we deliver strong trade policies and strong trade outcomes…

There’s going to be a very big Government impetus behind this policy.

I don’t think promoting British trade is just something for the Government. I think it’s something all of business can help us with and that’s where business ambassadors come in.

I want you to sell Britain - British exports and Britain as a place for investment.

The PM announced the Coalition Government’s new business ambassadors in November last year.  They have a wealth of business experience and knowledge and will assist UK businesses to recognise and exploit business opportunities.

The meeting today follows a jobs and growth summit in Downing Street yesterday, in which leaders of some of Britain’s biggest firms came to discuss their plans to create thousands of new jobs.

Read more: PM announces new Business Ambassadors

Read more: “Upgrading the importance of trade” - PM

Published 11 January 2011