THERE is no getting away from the fact that the past year has been a difficult one for businesses in the North-East. Despite this, the region saw a rise in export sales at the end of last year which gave some ground for optimism for this year.

The team at UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is seeing a good flow of companies, both experienced exporters and newcomers, coming to us for help and advice about overseas markets and business sectors.

Figures released earlier this year show that, despite an overall fall in export sales from £11.3bn in 2008 to £9.6bn last year, there was a 16.6 per cent increase in the third quarter of last year and a 7.9 per cent increase in the final quarter compared with the same periods in 2008.

Because of this upturn in the second half of last year, there is confidence that export sales in the current financial year may show improvements and get us back towards the record levels we saw in 2008.

There are signs that momentum is starting to build again in overseas markets, but we are still not out of the economic woods.

There are still myriad challenges to face, which means that good advice about export markets is vital to giving North-East companies a competitive edge.

It will take hard work and determination not just from the companies themselves but also the team at UKTI to deliver this.

But to celebrate the excellent work done by our regional exporters, UKTI will again hold its North-East Exporters’ Awards event in association with One North East, the North-East Chamber of Commerce, the regional language Network and HSBC at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, on July 15.

With nominations for the awards now closed, the judges have the task of working through some excellent applications. It looks like we are in for another really strong field of shortlisted firms for the five main award categories: New Exporter, Export Achievement, Innovation in Export. Export Communicator and Passport to Export.

Our celebration is a chance for us to congratulate not just the award winners but every company and every person who has played a part in ensuring that the North-East still has a strong voice in international trade.

To buy tickets for the event, costing £45 each or ten for £400, email Olive Armstrong at olive.armstrong@onenortheast.co.uk or call 0191-229-6562. To find out about the support services available through UK Trade & Investment, call the North-East International Trade Hotline on 0845-050-5054 or email enquiries@ukti.rito.co.uk ■ David Coppock is the international trade director at UK Trade & Investment (North-East)