Asia and Pacific Rim

HC Deb 30 March 1994 vol 240 cc805-6W

37. Mr. Mans

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made to reinforce the commercial sections of British embassies in Asia and the Pacific rim countries.

Mr. Goodlad

Since 1990, total export promotion effort at FCO posts in Asia and Pacific rim countries, measured in man years, has risen by 23 per cent.

This year alone we are creating 23 new frontline commercial jobs at our Asian and Pacific rim missions in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and at the British trade and cultural office in Taipei.

In addition, discussions are well advanced for opening new commercial offices in Pusan in Korea and Nagoya in Japan, to be run by locally employed staff.