Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, recently hosted a seminar for local businesses on the importance of exporting and the help available to businesses considering exporting for the first time, or looking for new overseas market opportunities.

The breakfast seminar, held at the Basingstoke Country Hotel, was jointly organised by the M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.

The event was well attended, with over 50 local businesses represented. After a keynote speech by Maria, delegates also heard from UKTI about the business benefits of exporting, and from the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce about the help available to companies to assist them with exporting. Two local companies also gave presentations on their experience of international trading.

In her speech, Maria stressed the vital role of exports in building sustainable growth in the UK economy and the great trade opportunities offered by the fast growing markets such as China, Russia, South America and the Middle East.  She also highlighted the opportunities for companies to grow their business considerably by trading internationally.

Maria said: “Basingstoke is a great place to do business and local companies are really well placed to export their goods and services. Many of the businesses in Basingstoke that I have visited are already exporting successfully and I would urge any others considering doing so, to take advantage of the all the advice and support available, and take that first leap.”