With the continuing global economic uncertainty and coming in the wake of the trade deals signed with the US, EU and India recently, the trade strategy aims to give British businesses greater access to global markets.
The FEA is a member of Export Partners UK, a collective of more than thirty trade associations that are actively engaging with the Government to help develop policy and better support international trade.
John Cunningham, chief executive of the FEA, said: “The Government used to fund the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP), providing financial support to companies wanting to exhibit at international trade shows.
“Trade shows are vital for sectors like foodservice equipment, and since the Government ceased funding the TAP it has placed barriers in front of companies that wish to develop their export business, particularly into new markets.
“The Government’s ambition to drive billions of pounds of new international trade is laudable and the new funding announced to support these aims will undoubtedly go some way towards achieving growth. But we must remain conscious that the devil is in the detail.
“The FEA is interested in what conditions might be attached to funding and will be keen to see our share of funding make its way into the commercial kitchen sector. We will continue working with and lobbying the Government to ensure that the interests of the commercial kitchen equipment sector is heard.”
The FEA has been lobbying the Government to reinstate this funding since it was withdrawn given the importance of trade shows to its members.