London ‘must do better’ on tech exports, minister says

Trade minister Greg Hands has admitted the UK “needs to do better” at digital exports as he vowed to make London’s tech sector a hit on the world stage after Brexit.

Hands, who was made minister for London this week after Gavin Barwell’s election defeat, said investment has continued to flow into London since the EU vote a year ago, but said more needed to be done to boost exports.

“On the exports picture, we are doing pretty well, but we need to be doing better,” Hands said.

He said as part of his new role as minister for London, he would work with mayor Sadiq Khan to find ways of making the capital’s tech scene “more attractive”.

On Paris and Berlin’s efforts to lure tech businesses away from London, Hands said: “You have to see anybody who wants to get a piece of the action as being a genuine threat.”