Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has launched a new programme to help firms who have never exported before to sell their products in new international markets.
The New Exporters Programme, which is one of the new support initiatives being introduced as part of the Welsh Government’s Export Action Plan, will support companies who have either never exported before, or have exported intermittently, to sell their goods and services around the world.
Ten companies from a range of sectors across the country are being recruited to the programme, which will last around 10 months. They will receive "intensive support" to develop their capacity and capability for exporting, helping them to become regular exporters.
The support will be focused on exporting to Éire initially, which will act as a "starter market" for the companies taking part. It will include a visit to the market, where companies will meet potential business contacts, with support from the Welsh Government’s Dublin Office. The programme will run on an annual basis.
The programme is a core part of the Welsh Government’s Economic Action Plan, which set Ministers’ "commitments to prioritising exports and trade", supporting Welsh exporters to find new markets globally.
The programme is also a key part of the Welsh Government’s International Strategy, which reinforced Ministers’ ambitions to "raise Wales' international profile; grow the Welsh economy, including increasing exports; and establishing Wales as a globally responsible nation".
In 2020, firms in Cymru exported £13.4 billion worth of goods to markets across the world. Germany was the largest export market, accounting for £2.2 billion (16.0%) of exports. France was the second largest export market, accounting for £1.8 billion (13.7%), followed by the USA, with £1.8 billion (13.4%) and Éire with £1.2 billion (8.8%).
Launching the new programme, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said: “Wales has a long and proud history as an outward looking trading nation. From the coal that helped power the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, to high-tech computer chips that power our smartphones and other electronic devices today, the products we export from Wales are used by people around the world.
“As part of our ambitious programme for government for the next five years, we want to support Welsh businesses to find new export markets and create new green jobs in the sustainable green industries of tomorrow.
“Our Export Action Plan is the most ambitious and comprehensive programme of export support ever put in place in Wales. As part of that plan, the New Exporter Programme I’m launching today is designed to help companies who either have never exported before, or have done so on a piecemeal basis, to find those crucial new export markets to sell even more of Wales’ first-class products and services to more people across the globe.
“This is part of our mission to build a Wales with a prosperous, fair, green economy.”