Firms in the South-East have been challenged to boost the region's export potential by seven per cent a year to achieve a target of £35.5 billion exports by 2005.

The target amounts to an increase of £11.7 billion and is a key goal of the South-East international trade strategy (SEITS), which also aims to increase the number of exporters.

Initiatives include: The launching of a government-backed export drive, Trade Partners, Your Passport to Export Success; developing e-commerce programmes for exporters; improving co-ordination with regional partners; establishing a network of export mentors and simplifying access to Trade Partner's UK services.

Sir David Wright, chief executive of British Trade International, said: "Our future economic prosperity depends significantly on how well our businesses compete overseas. International trade stimulates business growth through learning from, and competing with, the best in the world. Firms that trade internationally generally have higher productivity, turnover, profitability and employment.

"The South-East England Development Agency (Seeda) and Trade Partners have worked closely with organisations in the region to draw up a strategy which places international trade at the heart of the competitiveness and productivity agenda in the region."

Seeda board member Bryan Davies said: "We have a great tradition of international trade in the South-East and we want to maximise the potential of businesses to export profitably.

"Together with our partners, Seeda has made it clear businesses must be encouraged to access the highest quality of business support services if they are to impact on their results and the region's competitiveness."

Lewis Scott, Trade Partners' director for the South-East, said: "Only a small fraction of companies in the region actually export. More than 97 per cent of the value of these exports lies with just a quarter of exporting firms.

"The proportion of businesses exporting in the South-East is above the UK average but compares poorly to many regions in the EU.

"Our strengths include the many examples of good practice in business support provision by Business Links and the variety of support services available."

Trade Partners UK has three key objectives; to raise awareness of the services available, to simplifying access to services and to develop more effective branding.