This week, the Government announced a ‘bounce back’ package of trade and investment measures to help support agriculture, food and drink businesses impacted by coronavirus.
The food and drinks industry employs four million people and is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector.
The new strategic interventions jointly announced by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will offer immediate support to help businesses in the industry grow their trade activity overseas.
The measures also aim to provide firms with the knowledge, expertise and network that they need to export more over the longer-term and capitalise on the export opportunities.
Producers and manufacturers can find more information on how to access support at: https://www.great.gov.uk/campaigns/agriculture-food-and-drink-support/.
Commenting on the news, Selaine Saxby MP said:
The food and drink industry play a vital role in North Devon. More trade and investment is so important for the industry to be able to overcome the economic challenges which it has faced due to the pandemic.
The scheme will give the boost to our small and medium food producers and manufacturers, offering the chance to grow trade overseas and see products from North Devon in countries such as the US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia to name a few.