David Cameron is poised to step up his post-Olympics trade push by recruiting some of the most prominent members of the House of Lords to forge relationships with key British export markets.
I have learned that the Prime Minister will announce the appointment of about half a dozen peers as trade representatives on Tuesday.
The appointees will be expected to exploit their links with individual countries to promote opportunities for British companies to expand trading ties.
Mr Cameron has decided to focus on fast-growing markets where there is significant potential for UK companies. The strategy has been drawn up in collaboration with UK Trade and Investment, the trade promotion agency.
Among the first crop of trade representatives will be Lord Puttnam, the well-known film-maker, who will oversee relations with Vietnam and potentially a broader group of south-east Asian countries.
Baroness Bonham-Carter, the Liberal Democrat peer who is a cousin of Helena Bonham-Carter, the actress, will assume a brief for promoting trade with Mexico. Lord Risby will become trade representative for Algeria.
Mr Cameron has spoken repeatedly about his belief that every Whitehall department must become "an economics ministry" in order to improve Britain's prospects.
A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment ahead of the announcement.
