MP and business chief develop business opportunities

Jeremy Taylor (right), of Gatwick Diamond Business, and Crawley MP Henry Smith (centre) visited Guernsey to develop business opportunities. They met with Barry Cash of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce.
Henry Smith and Jeremy Taylor with Barry Cash of the Guernsey Chamber of CommerceHenry Smith and Jeremy Taylor with Barry Cash of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce
Henry Smith and Jeremy Taylor with Barry Cash of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce

Meetings with representatives of the Island’s business community also included Guernsey Finance.

Jeremy Taylor said “Any route between Gatwick and the outlying regions can be as important as some of those which are considerably further.

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“During our meetings we discovered some real commercial opportunities in Guernsey as well as natural synergies between our two economies.

“I look forward to further working with the Guernsey business community and we hope to set up a series of meetings so that we can explore further economic links.”

He continued “Being with Henry meant we could also discuss the economic damage coming from Airline Passenger Duty (APD) and other regulations that are standing in the way of economic growth.

“Traditionally places like Weymouth, Poole and Portsmouth would be seen as natural port towns for Guernsey and the Channel Islands, but Gatwick has just as much to offer and I am interested in building greater links between us as economic areas,”

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Henry Smith said. “It’s not just about passing through Gatwick. We have a lot of first-class companies in manufacturing, medical and financial services in the area and there are potential economic benefits for both of us.”

The day after the visit easyJet announced an aspiration to operate Gatwick to Guernsey flights once FlyBe cease operations next Spring.

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