The director general of the Institute of Export & International Trade, Marco Forgione, has congratulated Liz Truss on becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party and the UK’s next prime minister.

Forgione wrote to Truss today (5 September) to wish her well in “stewarding the UK through what is a particularly challenging and turbulent economic period” and noted her “strong background in international trade”.

Truss previously served as Secretary of State for International Trade before being appointed Foreign Secretary in September 2021.

Digital agenda

In his letter to Truss, Forgione raised the importance of “harnessing the opportunities provided through international trade” in order to alleviate the cost of living crisis.

The “digitalisation of trade processes and documentation” will have a key role to play in this, he wrote.

He mentioned the Institute’s support to government in implementing its new export strategy through its work on the new Target Operating Model and Ecosystem of Trust.

Forgione also raised the importance of the freeports strategy in the government’s levelling up agenda and called on Truss’ administration to establish “an MSME taskforce” to provide smaller businesses with “immediate help and support on issues such as the rising cost of fuel and energy crisis”.

‘Ready to support’

Speaking to the IOE&IT Daily Update today, Forgione said:

“On behalf of the IOE&IT’s 7000 members and our wider community of over 30,000 businesses, I congratulate Liz Truss on her victory on becoming the new British prime minister.

“It is great to have an incoming prime minister with such a strong background in international trade. The progress made on free trade agreements (FTAs) under her tenure as Secretary of State for International Trade was significant. 

“That trade was also integral to the development policy she pursued as Foreign Secretary sends a strong message to the world that the UK is first and foremost a trading nation, as well as a dedicated and committed ally.

“She takes over during what is a particularly challenging and turbulent economic period.  We want to see an export-led recovery that ensures that UK businesses have the tools, the skills, the knowledge and the expertise to seize the opportunities that arise through international trade. 

“In particular we would like to see the government establish an MSME taskforce to provide immediate help and support on issues such as the rising cost of fuel and energy. 

“We stand ready to support you in any way that we can.”