THE region’s leading export official says Merseyside businesses must keep their eyes open for international trading opportunities despite the recession.

Clive Drinkwater, regional director of UK Trade & Investment, says that, despite the downturn in many markets, there are still countries whose economies are growing and sectors which are thriving.

He said: “The time has been good for some time now to look at exporting.

“Around the world, markets are still growing. Look at Qatar, which last year grew GDP by something like 16%, or China, which grew by 8%, or India.

“Though there’s been a downturn, there are still export markets.

“There are still sectors that are doing very well.

“Environmental technologies, energy, and certain parts of the creative and digital sectors are doing very well. Aerospace is doing well and the biomedical sector is doing well – though I readily admit there are some sectors, such as construction, that aren’t doing so well.

“We’ve also got a competitive pound. You may argue it’s not as competitive as it once was, but we have some tremendous advantages over euroland.”

Mr Drinkwater said exports were hugely important to the North West economy.

He said: “Last year we had huge amount of growth in exports.

“They were worth £24bn for the North- West, from £21bn the previous year.

“In the final quarter of the last financial year, we saw a bit of a tail-off, but the evidence we’re seeing is that firms are very much looking, particularly with the competitive pound, at opportunities overseas.

“We’re not just relying on the export of goods. We’ve also got a services sector that exports in the region of £8bn.

“Exports account for something like 30% of the GVA of the region.

“It’s hugely important that businesses look to expand their international operations as much as they can.”