The Government used this year’s NFU Conference to launch a new ‘Open Doors’ food and drink export campaign, which is being run in conjunction with the NFU, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and AHDB.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said the high quality of UK produce makes it highly competitive in the global marketplace. “We need to look beyond our shores. By the end of this decade, 66% of the world’s middle-class consumers are expected to be found in Asia. They are hungry for top-quality food and drink,” she said. “I want more farmers and food producers to grasp these sorts of opportunities and go global. Embracing fast-growing markets will ensure we always have somewhere to sell our food and drink, be resilient to any future economic shocks, and help maximise the potential of our exports.”
Truss argued that farmers and growers will benefit from the gain from the government’s more liberal approach to trade outside the EU. ““Exporting supports higher wages, productivity, and high-quality jobs, but one in five of our food manufacturers export. We want to unleash the potential of many more businesses, which is why I am glad today to announce a new export campaign for British food and drink.”
Ian Wright, FDF CEO, added, “Increasing government support will be warmly welcomed by food and drink manufacturers as they chart their entry into new international markets.”
Picture caption: Liz Truss launched the new export campaign at the NFU Conference