A national index has highlighted the opportunities for firms in Coventry and Warwickshire to export more to grow their businesses.
The index, produced by the British Chambers of Commerce and DHL, says the exporting activity to non-EU countries was at its strongest in the first quarter of 2013 since the first quarter of 2012.
It backs up the recent Quarterly Economic Survey figures from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce which said service sector firms had seen exports rise by 66 per cent and manufacturers had seen them go up by 65 per cent.
The Chamber has been campaigning to get more companies across the region to sell their goods and services abroad and is urging them to tap into support from the region’s UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) team.
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The figures show that there are still many, many opportunities overseas and in markets that companies may not think of as having export potential.
“The key for companies in Coventry and Warwickshire is to realise the quality of the work they do and the fact that we have respect the world over.
“That was a point Lord Green made at our annual conference last year. People overseas trust British brands and expertise and it is important that we make the most of that and export more.
“Rebalancing our economy is something that has been talked about for some time but it’s not an overnight project. We have to continue to encourage more and more companies to export in order to grow their businesses and, in turn, our economy.”