The government has launched a UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Strategy and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) seven-point Charter to support international business, championing UK business abroad.

Launched by business secretary Vince Cable, foreign secretary William Hague and Trade & Investment Minister Lord Green, the strategy will see UKTI adopt a more entrepreneurial approach to deliver growth.

The new approach includes:

·     Launching a private sector delivery partner with the incentive to attract and retain high-value investments

·     Expanding the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) to gain more investment to the UK

·     Bringing more private sector expertise into its relationship with exporters and inward investors

·     Developing partnerships with key businesses which support SMEs, and using their networks to raise awareness of the benefits of exporting

·     Creating a new online self-help community for UK SME exporters to support each other and share experience as they seek to internationalise their businesses

• Introducing a new Strategy Task Force, with members drawn from UK-based companies, to inform the future direction of both UKTI and ECGD.

Cable said: “We’re rightly proud of British firms and making sure they can increase their exports to a worldwide audience is vital if we are to rebuild our economy. We also know the UK already has a great reputation as a place to do business and we want to do all we can to make sure foreign investors come here.

“Today, we’re announcing practical help for UK companies to ensure they win business overseas. And we’re setting out how we will actively attract inward investment to the UK with ambitious plans to target sovereign wealth funds and expand the global entrepreneur programme.”