A Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI) survey does
not reflect the UK's gloomy GDP third quarter figures announced
today.
Paul Bassi, president of BCI, said: "The economy shrank by a
worse-than-expected 0.2% between July and September but these
figures do not reflect the current situation.
"At the end of this month BCI will be issuing the results of its
quarterly economic survey which is expected to show that companies
are turning more and more to exports for survival.
"The regional economy faces many challenges, not the least of
which is the manufacturing sector on which the West Midlands still
heavily relies. But being the innovative city we are,
companies are looking for alternative means of growth and are
turning to export.
"We should not underestimate the challenges facing Birmingham
companies but the end of the recession may be within touching
distance."