Warm greetings to you all, and may I take this opportunity to wish you a rather belated Happy New Year. As I type, the vaccine programme in the UK is going full steam ahead, so I am optimistic that 2021 will be a year of recovery from the Covid crisis. We have to remain positive!
Even with the year as strange as it was, 2020 allowed for some positive growth as a company. I believe this is testament to the excellent staff we have here at AWL, along with our loyal customer base and partners overseas who have worked with us through the worst of the crisis.
Our intention this year is to continue our growth trajectory helped by the investment in our sales team which continues apace. You can update yourselves on our new additions to the team further on in the blog.
We continue to invest in our import team especially with the new requirements for customs clearance between the UK / EU after Brexit. I am pleased to say as importers and exporters along with the rest of the industry adjust to the new processes and regulations, the initial impact is expected to lessen. Smoother operations will soon return.
In a Covid battered world riven by trade wars and trade barriers, I do believe Global Britain’s return is timely
In a Covid battered world riven by trade wars and trade barriers, I do believe Global Britain’s return is timely. As much as we have left the European Union we are still in Europe so let us not forget this. We are now able to support the right kind of globalisation based on our shared values for free markets and free societies and with the recently agreed FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with the EU, we can continue to trade openly with our friends and partners and move forward together.
On another positive note, just this week the UK Government has applied to the join the CPTPP which is one of the world’s largest free trade areas deepening our trade ties with some of the fastest growing markets in the world. So, what is there not to be optimistic about?!
Just this week the UK has applied to the join the CPTPP - deepening our trade ties with some of the fastest growing markets in the world
Before I leave you to read on, I’d like to wish our Chinese friends, customers and partners a very Happy New Year of the Ox. Gong xi fa cai to all
I look forward to catching up with you in a short while so happy reading as always and keep safe.
Let’s all make this a great year ahead!
David Stevens
Managing Director