With ASKAR SHEIBANI

CEO Comtek Network Systems UK Ltd & Chair DBF

The United Kingdom has embarked on an uncharted journey.

No one can truly predict the end result of the decision to leave the EU. Some experts foresee serious economic consequence for the UK.

However, others envisage major opportunities for the country. As an entrepreneur, risk-taking is in my DNA, so I am pretty optimistic, as long as our political leaders demonstrate some real creativity and courage.

The UK government departments suffer from the build-up of centuries of bureaucratic, outdated processes that hinder economic dynamism and innovation.

No British governments have shown the courage and decisiveness to dismantle these mostly useless, unnecessary processes.

Previously, whenever businesses complained about bureaucracy, we were told that nothing could be done as most of the rules had been imposed upon us by the EU.

We are now a totally sovereign nation with no more ties to the EU. So, there is no reason for our government not to embark on reforming those suffocating barriers and supporting the UK’s indigenous home-grown businesses.

For example, British businesses, including my own, have been suffering from the draconian obstacles the Department for International Trade imposes on British exporters.

They are making it as difficult as possible by enforcing petty, unnecessary export license rules which will only benefit our competitors in other countries.

We have raised this issue through the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the local MP to the Trade Minister responsible.

Sadly, the minister’s response was a total denial of the existence of any such issues. When the government ministers are in denial and are defending the indefensible, there can be no hope for a radical change.

Fortunately, we have some great MPs in North Wales full of energy, fire and a passion for North Wales, who are willing to work closely with the business community. I am confident that forging a solid team between the businesses and the vast majority of our enterprise-focused MPs will create a powerful unbeatable alliance in North Wales.

We need to make sure that the UK government will, under no circumstances, follow or adopt the EU’s most destructive State Aid rules.

The UK and the Welsh governments must use Brexit as an opportunity to invest and support our own industries. This pandemic has inflicted untold damage on our local businesses.

Now, there is no excuse to delay in launching transformative support by creating an environment for business growth.

Businesses are desperate for lifeblood support such as access to grants and finance within the next few crucial months.

Let’s make it easier for us to compete on exports. Reform our outdated public procurement rules, allowing a level playing field for small businesses to compete and win contracts. Let’s revolutionise and update the government departments, making them more enterprising and business-friendly. Let’s invest heavily in North Wales’ key infrastructures such as digital.

The deal with the EU has brought about stability and certainty. It is in the hands of the business community and government to turn this into a great opportunity for success.

If we rise above the doom and gloom culture and, together with our enthusiastic politicians, embrace the future with optimism, determination and vigour, we will surely revolutionise North Wales’s economic fortune.