Small businesses were today urged to prepare for EU enlargement and take advantage of the biggest single market in the world by making the most of Government support networks like Business Link and Trade Partners UK.

Addressing a conference hosted by smallbusiness|europe in Brussels, DTI Minister Nigel Griffiths said enlargement presented entrepreneurs with a massive opportunity to break into new markets.

The entry of 10 new Member States will create the largest single market in the world - bigger than the US and Japan combined – with 450 million consumers.

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Griffiths, the Small Business Minister, said: 'An enlarged Europe means that firms will have important new markets on their doorstep. The remaining obstacles to doing business with the new members will be removed, so it's an opening door for small firms.

'Since 1990, for example, UK trade with the 10 new member states has increased by over 400 per cent, compared with a 43 per cent increase in trade with the rest of the world.

'With the help of Business Link and the DTI's Trade Partners UK, many small businesses have already made inroads into these new markets. I urge more small firms to follow their example.' Firms that have already been helped into the new markets include Burton Engineering Co Ltd of Bridlington, East Yorkshire, which is exporting label finishing machines to Estonia and Lithuania following a trade mission to the two countries and help from their Business Link which assisted the firm in commissioning a market report on both Estonia and Lithuania.

Burton Engineering's sales manager Trevor Pimm said: 'The trade mission was a great success and really allowed us to spread our wings into a market that we never would have been able to deal with previously. Business Link Humber was excellent, making the trip a truly invaluable experience.' During his visit to Brussels Mr Griffiths will also meet, among others, Accession Country Representatives to discuss priorities for their small business sectors; Commissioner for Enterprise Errki Liikanen to discuss UK priorities for enlargement; Hans Werner Muller, Secretary-General of the pan-European small business organisation UEAPME; and Timo Summa, the Commission's SME envoy.

o Ten new member states will be joining the EU on 1 May 2004 - Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

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