By Mark McSherry

Liverpool City Region’s export plan has set out an ambitious target to grow its current exports total of £8.5 billion in goods and services to £11.8 billion by 2030.

Growth Platform: Liverpool City Region Growth Company has launched the export plan in time for International Trade Week, which runs until November 4.

The plan is in partnership with local chambers of commerce – Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens and Wirral — as well as the Department of International Trade, other regional partners including Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and councils across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool Sefton, Wirral and St. Helens.

Liverpool City Region businesses already export to over 100 different countries around the world. As an Atlantic facing port city, the United States is by far the Liverpool City Region’s largest trading partner, accounting for £1.1 billion worth of exports.

The next largest markets are Germany at £468 million and China at £351 million.

Ben Flanagan, Export Manager at the Department of International Trade, said: “Liverpool City Region has a very proud heritage in international trade.

“With world leading brands in automotive and chemical processing, the region has been successfully exporting cars and chemicals to markets all over the world.

“As these industries evolve and innovate to solve the challenges of the future, so too will their exports.

“But the Liverpool City Region is home to many more world-leading organisations, in the fields of science and technology.

“This presents great opportunities for export growth. The aim of this plan is to support aspirational exporters to access the support they need to make their first exports. As well as encouraging existing exporters to export more.”

Janice Mears, Head of Business Growth, Growth Platform, said: “Whilst there are businesses in the region already taking advantage of exporting, we want to work with companies in the area to help them expand further.

“The region’s export plan can help organisations with starting to trade internationally, help existing exporters reach new markets, mitigate risks, and reduce costs.”