‘Go for growth’, MP urges company bosses - SEE VIDEO
BUSINESS leaders in West Norfolk should “go for growth” in new overseas markets in 2012, instead of “ticking over” in difficult trading conditions closer to home.
That was the call from North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham this week, as he pledged to back economic and skills programmes and lobby for improvements to road and rail links over the coming months.
During a visit to the Lynn News offices, Mr Bellingham highlighted economic and transport issues as being among his main priorities for the year ahead, as well as continuing the fight against the proposed Lynn incinerator.
He conceded the country was in for a “difficult year”, but insisted there were both jobs at home and opportunities for businesses to expand abroad, with exports to some non-European countries rising by as much as 40 per cent.
He said: “I want local firms to be part of that. We’ve got some very well-run businesses here. They’ve got the choice of ticking along in a fairly flat domestic and European market or looking for growth further afield.
“There are some really good examples of companies who have looked for growth in international markets and have done really well.”
He praised the West Norfolk Council for their vision and efforts to bring new firms to the area and said work being done with the Lynn Academy was particularly exciting.
But he warned that the area had to be “proactive” in order to make progress Mr Bellingham also gave his backing to the campaign for improvements to the A47 – highlighting relief schemes for the villages of Middleton and East Winch and work to improve a notorious crossroads near Walsoken as particularly important – and train links to London and Cambridge.
He said transport links were the area’s “shop front” and any improvements to the network would help the efforts to bring new firms to the area.
However, in the week when rail passengers faced the reality of above inflation fare increases for the first time following the Christmas break, Mr Bellingham admitted he shared the concerns of union leaders over the impact of the hikes.
But he said the train operating companies should be doing more to improve their services to passengers and keep fares down.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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