The visit by Gareth Thomas, Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, and Jonathan Shaw, Minister for the South East, was one of a series of regional visits by Government, designed to give business leaders and local groups the opportunity to feedback their views on the economy.
The government published a joint response by HM Treasury, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), and SEEDA to the current challenges faced by businesses in the South East. This sets out the strengths of an economy which has developed high value businesses, from manufacturing to the service sectors. It identifies the challenges and priorities, detailing the support available at a national, regional and local level to businesses and consumers.
Speaking at today’s event, Jonathan Shaw, said:
"I know that our regional economy and local businesses are facing more difficult times, as we all come to terms with the unprecedented challenges facing global markets. The South East has one of the most successful regional economies in the UK, and has held up well to global challenges in the past. We have a diverse and robust economic base in the region's high value manufacturing sector and the strength of the financial and business service sector. This gives us cause for optimism.
"But it is important that we work with business, local authorities and the third sector to ensure that we come through current challenges. We recognise the importance of increased support for business at this time, and I'm therefore pleased that SEEDA has announced a range of measures today that will bring direct help to the South East's businesses."
