Wales’ biggest business organisation has argued that after the Covid-19 crisis, and with a changing international environment post-Brexit, Welsh firms will need the support of a Welsh Government with a clear vision on exploiting international markets.

This must consider how to traverse new terrain on international trade, export and investment, working in partnership with and drawing on the expertise of significant UK Government resource and architecture.

• 39% of businesses considering expanding into new markets in the next 12 months
• FSB calls for an arms-length development agency to support internationalising businesses.

Recent FSB research has shown that 39% of firms are considering expanding into new markets in the next 12 months. 10% of firms already say that international trade is the most important thing for their business, with many firms looking to explore new opportunities around the world post-Brexit.

Furthermore, 42% of those surveyed stated that Welsh branding on products is important to them. This demonstrates a need for Wales to both articulate a clear and strong brand, as well as for businesses to feel emboldened to use it in their trading endeavours.

In order to support an increasingly internationally-focused cohort of Welsh firms, FSB Wales has called on the next Welsh Government to create a new arm’s length Economic Development Agency – International Wales. This body should be tasked with delivering a strong international brand for Wales, and providing international trade networks, export opportunities and investment within which Welsh firms can prosper. Such an agency should be underpinned by an Economic Development Bill for Wales.

FSB Wales has called for the tourism industry to be provided with long-term support as a strategically important economic sector, especially given its links with hospitality, food production, farming and other sectors that are vital to Wales.

Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair, said:

“We want to see the next Welsh Government exploring opportunities for how they can take the next step in championing Welsh businesses on the international stage – and we believe that this is where International Wales steps in.

“Wales and Welsh businesses have a brand that we can all be proud of – whether that’s our world-renowned food and drink industry, innovation in manufacturing and technology or the many other sectors that help project our brand on the international stage. We want the next Welsh Government to immediately take bold action to ensure that opportunities created by the Welsh brand are maximised for every firm in Wales.

“Our tourism industry is also a vital part of how we project our Wales brand to all corners of the world. We all know that tourism has been particularly badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and there are concerns that the ramifications of this could be felt for some time to come. We want to see the next Welsh Government taking steps to place the tourism industry on a much more stable footing, and helping our dynamic Welsh tourism firms to make the case for why Wales offers the best in days out and holidays.”

Steve Dimmick, Chief Operating Officer at doopoll, a Cardiff-based technology firm which exports services around the world, said:

“We are an online platform that was founded here in Wales. We provide our solutions to companies and people all over the world.

“Just recently we’ve had sign-ups from Bangladesh to Belgium, from Portugal to the Philippines. We are a truly international firm, and every day we are supporting people globally through our solution.

“My request is that Welsh Government backs FSB’s manifesto, particularly around issues related to Wales and the world.

“I’d love to see more support for organisations such as ours, which offer digital products which, in the advent of Covid, can be bought worldwide with no need for face-to-face meetings, although of course offering opportunities through video conferencing.

“We need more digital companies creating multilingual software solutions that can be sold on a worldwide basis and I’d urge Welsh Government to think about how they can support this from businesses like us.”