ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson has gone to Japan in a bid to boost exports and employment.

The Minister for the Creative Arts, who left on Saturday, is spending five days in Japan to promote what Britain has to offer.

Already the creative industries, which cover areas from music to interactive leisure software, have a growth rate of twice the national average, generate £60billion a year for the UK economy, including £8billion in exports, and employ 1.4 million people.

Japan is a major export target for the sector and has the second largest market for music in the world. Pop band Steps showed the potential for UK music export by selling more than a million copies of their latest album in Japan.

The country has also warmed to TV programmes from Britain including The Human Body and The Teletubbies.

Mrs Anderson said: "The Government attaches great importance to ensuring the continuing success of the UK's creative industries which is essential in creating tomorrow's jobs.

"The Government recognises that in the global market place only the best succeeds. We have learned that 'seeing is believing' and missions such as this are vitally important if British talent is to take its place on the world stage."

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