IT has been widely reported over the past 12 months that exporters will be a key part of the UK recovery. So, as the NECC Go Global campaign reaches its first birthday, it’s apparent that exporting in the North-East is still a key part of growing and supporting the local economy.

The Go Global Campaign aims to highlight the many exporters in the North-East and the strength of the connections we have built with the rest of the world.

It is staggering to see the number of countries that are currently linked with businesses in the region.

This was highlighted in NECC’s World Cup charity sweepstake and while England left the competition early, Global Anodes – the overall competition winners – were successful in backing Spain as a country that they currently export to.

From very early on, the Go Global campaign received heavy backing from the Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King and MP David Miliband. Mr Miliband backed the campaign by adding: “We need to support the private sector – manufacturers and exporters are a vital part of the future.”

The North East Chamber of Commerce has for many years worked with exporters in the North-East, whether they have been first-time exporters or veterans of the international market.

NECC has supported businesses trading overseas with advice, training and export documentation services.

Documentation is a vital part of any business moving goods abroad. Courses such as dangerous goods training have reduced lengthy queues at custom checkpoints, saved thousands of pounds in time and stopped goods being rejected for not having the right paperwork. And we all know how frustrating that is.

In the first six months of this year, the NECC documentation team had processed more than 8,000 documents.

So, with just over four weeks to my Jamaican holiday, I can honestly say that all my documents are in order and the only dangerous goods I have to declare are my new Bond bikini and the contents of my make-up bag.

I pity the customs officer that tries to separate me from my life-saving face cream.