The Port of Ipswich has hosted a visit to the town by the Department for International Trade’s Export Hub truck, part of the Government’s Exporting is GREAT campaign to promote growth in the UK.

The hub, which is travelling to a number of UK regions, is equipped with a skype room which allows visitors to talk to a network of overseas advisers about doing business in a range of different markets.

It was parked at Ipswich’s Cliff Quay, where the ABP-owned port’s main export operations are based, and was used by the port and its customers for a mix of events which also included including seminars and one-to-one meetings with export advisors.

Alan Pain, regional director at the Department for International Trade, said: “Exporting is a proven route to business growth and resilience and whatever your sector, the demand for UK goods and services is out there.

“The UK brand is a mark of quality, innovation and excellence and the East of England certainly exemplifies those qualities. With major international gateways such as the Port of Ipswich on our doorstep the opportunities are significant for those that take that step.”

Julian Scott, general manager at Clarksons Port Services, said: “The Export Hub is a valuable tool for all our customers, providing them with knowledge and local connections to new potential markets they will need post Brexit. We are confident this will help us expand our customer base and grow our export volumes further.”

Andrew Harston, short sea ports director at ABP, added: “Hosting the DIT’s Export Hub gives us another way to deliver on our mission to keep Britain trading and support the Exporting is GREAT campaign.

“Ipswich is a particularly fitting venue for the Export Hub with its proud position as the UK’s leading export port for agricultural products. We’ve seen first-hand how exports can drive growth in our business and are keen to help other local companies’ access global markets.”

Ipswich’s status as the UK’s number one export port for agricultural products was recently confirmed by the 2016 GB Port Freight statistics released by the Department for Transport (DfT) in September, a record it has now held since 2005.