SussExport 2023 took place at Wilton Park in Wiston House on Friday bringing together businesses, local economy and tourism leaders, and representatives from Government and Parliament. Local MP, Andrew Griffith and Tom Cargill, CEO of Wilton Park, welcomed delegates to Wiston, near Steyning, for the third and largest annual event.
Wilton Park has a 76-year history of being a place for international dialogue and tackling complex global issues.
The Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE, a senior Minister at the Department for Business and Trade, gave a keynote speech in which he drew on the opportunities available to Sussex-based businesses. He emphasised the ambition of Great Britain to become a science and technology superpower. Lord Johnson also praised the vital work of Wilton Park. Parliamentarians Sir Peter Bottomley, Tim Loughton MP and Mims Davies MP joined business leaders at the event.
Throughout the day, a series of panels and discussions took place exploring the Sussex footprint. Themes included heritage and tourism, the county’s maritime connections, and the exciting future of technology and industry locally.
Amongst the panel speakers were Mardi Robert, Director of Ridgeview Wine Estate and Vice Chair of the Sussex Visitor Economy Group and Director, Richard Hopkins, Managing Director of Fargro, Tom Willis, CEO of Shoreham Port, and Bridie Norman and Tim Rose, Executive Vice presidents of Eleketa.
One of the discussions was about marketing Sussex to the world as a major wine heartland – bringing together wine production, food, and culture as an integrated offer for tourism. With 138 vineyards across East and West Sussex, Sussex wine is a leading contributor to the local economy.
Andrew Griffith MP said:
“I am a proud champion of the the founders, entrepeneurs and business leaders who take risks to create growth and support thousands of livelihoods across Sussex.
“I was delighted to welcome many of those business owners to Wilton Park to discuss how they can grow their exports abroad to continue putting our county on the international stage.”
