One of my first actions as Prime Minister was to develop a modern Industrial Strategy, to help businesses create better, higher-paying jobs with investment in the skills, industries and infrastructure of the future, as part of a truly global Britain.

Theresa May
HM Prime Minister

This Export Strategy builds on that work, seeking to unlock the great potential of UK business, and realising the prosperity, stability and security benefits of trade. Exporting is vital to the UK economy and the strategy for a Global Britain. Businesses that export are more productive, create more jobs and pay higher wages.

The United Kingdom’s export success spans across sectors and regions of the UK, from aerospace in Northern Ireland to transport in Wales; oil extraction in Scotland and financial services in England; and these exporters employ millions of people. Trade is also an important part of the efforts to support countries out of poverty in a way that aid-spending alone cannot, whilst creating our trading partners of the future.

That is why the UK is setting a new national ambition to transform its export performance, raising exports as a proportion of GDP from 30% to 35%. This is a formidable challenge that reflects the desire for the UK to be at the forefront of global trade. This Export Strategy sets out how government, working with the private sector, aims to put in place the right practical, promotional and financial support to help businesses to grow sustainably by exporting. But this is just the start. We now begin work across government aimed at making wider changes to our business environment, backing UK business to achieve this bold aspiration.

Click on the link below to download and read the full export strategy.