British PM pledges support for exporters

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

LONDON, March 12 (Chinese media) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on

Thursday pledged more support for the country's exporters to help their

expansion into new foreign markets under the current economic downturn.

The government plans to provide specialist and tailored financial and legal

advice to over 1,200 businesses in the coming year, said a news release from the

Prime Minister's Office.

Despite tough times, the prime minister believes that opportunities for new

export growth still exist.

"There are still markets for British goods if we help businesses access

them. That is why it is vital we give British businesses world class support to

make the most of global opportunities and increase their activity in overseas

markets," Brown told 100 of the largest business exporters in the country's

northwest on Thursday.

The prime minister cited a recent survey which found companies that export

tend to be more resilient in a downturn. A total of 42 percent of exporters

increased their turnover in the past 12 months, compared with only 23 percent

overall, he added.

But Mervyn Davies, minister for trade and investment, said small and medium

businesses needed to continue to be flexible and innovative to seek out new

export opportunities.

Noting that small businesses can find it hard to break into new markets on

their own, the minister said UK Trade and Investment is there to help.

"The 3.5-million-pound (about 4.9 million U.S. dollars) program' Gateway to

Global Growth' will start from April helping SMEs (small and medium-sized

enterprises) to access foreign markets where they see potential for their

business," added Davies.

In 2007, British exports were valued at 220 billion pounds. (1 U.S. dollar

= 0.7143 pounds)