Businesses which trade internationally are three times more likelyto grow than those who do not and FedEx Express is urging UKbusinesses to start thinking internationally to stimulate theirgrowth and boost profitability. However, more than half (51.9%) ofthe 1,000 UK SMEs surveyed said they would require more support toachieve international expansion and FedEx Express is highlightingthe solutions and expertise available to ensure UK businessescontinue on an upward trajectory—driving the UK economyforward.
The UK has recorded the strongest export growth in the EU in2013, outstripping every other large economy. This growth is downto surging exports (City AM, March 2014) and highlights the UK SMEsare doing a good job and positivity is set to continue in thisarea.
The Great British Export Report is released at a time when the UKgovernment is emphasising the pivotal role SMEs need to play in thecontinued economic recovery by setting an ambitious ￡1 trillionexport value target by 2020 (gov.uk). Some UK businesses arealready taking advantage of international opportunities and the UKeconomy is looking more positive as a result. However, according tothe report, UK SMEs still appear to find entering emerging marketschallenging. China, Russia, Brazil and India are allunder-represented in the SME export league table with China—theworld's second largest economy—surprisingly occupying the sixthspot and topping the poll of the most difficult markets to exportto. Other challenging regions to enter include the US, the MiddleEast and Japan, the research found.
