BEI Weekly Update - 10th July 2026

Dear Members and Friends,

‍
When I started my career, doing business abroad often meant poring over well-thumbed (and out-of-date) trade directories and spending the first morning of a visit with the local Chamber of Commerce to find basic information and contacts. A lot has changed since then, but this week’s BEI programme has been a reminder that, even with the internet in every pocket (and even, dare I say, with AI), many opportunities only become apparent in face-to-face discussions with those who know.

On Monday, our “Meet the Ambassador” session with H.E. Philip Hall, Ambassador to Jordan, was followed almost immediately by a panel discussion organised in collaboration with the Middle East Association on the opportunities arising from the recently concluded UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement.

Continuing our theme, on Wednesday I was pleased to welcome Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, H.E. Yarub Qudah, to Birdcage Walk for a very fruitful discussion with BEI colleagues on how we can do more to facilitate business exchanges between the two countries, where we already have a framework for trade in the shape of the UK-Jordan Association Agreement.

Free Trade Agreements also came up with Martin Kent, HM Trade Commissioner for APAC, on Tuesday this week, as the UK now has several FTAs in place with important partners in the region (including Japan, Australia and New Zealand), as well as our membership of CPTPP. We’ve been used to hearing a good deal of scepticism about the difference FTAs can really make, but modern agreements – which reflect the blurring of the lines between goods and services and, as a result, the increasing opportunities for trade with more distant regions – fully justify the effort DBT is putting into maximising their value for UK companies. We are very glad to play a part in supporting this effort.

On Tuesday this week, we held an excellent session with Andrew Ockenden, Development Director in Ukraine for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Andrew provided insights into the on-the-ground context and presented FCDO’s development strategy, programming and pipeline of opportunities for UK organisations to provide services in Ukraine. Many thanks to Andrew for joining us.

In the coming weeks we will host two webinars. On Tuesday 14th July from 09:00-10:00 BST, we look forward to a market opportunity overview of the Philippines with colleagues at the Department for Business and Trade. The session will provide a macroeconomic overview of opportunities in the country, as well as a deep dive into the infrastructure, technology and energy sectors. If you are interested in joining, click here to register.

The date for our Asian Development Bank Procurement Clinic has been changed to Wednesday 22 July, 09:00-10:30 BST. Organised in partnership with the British Embassy in Manila, we will explore how UK companies can best access and compete for ADB-financed opportunities across Asia. If you are interested in joining, click here to register.

On Wednesday 15 July, our sister organisation, the British Foreign Policy Group, is launching the findings of its annual survey of UK public opinion on foreign policy and global affairs. This is the eighth iteration of the survey, giving BFPG a unique level of insight into what Brits think about our role in the world. The report also explores evolving trends, including which countries Britons trust most (and least), what trade-offs people are prepared to make to pay for defence or international development, and what kinds of media consumption are driving foreign policy understanding across different demographics.

This event will include a briefing on the survey findings and a panel discussion featuring BFPG’s Director Evie Aspinall, Sir Philip Barton GCMG OBE, and Aphrodite Vamvakopoulou, Intelligence Director at Critical Publics, followed by drinks. You can register to attend on this page.

Finally, if you haven’t already, please take a look at our recent publications: Water Risk and Finance: Bridging the Gap and our report on the Overseas Territories Trade and Investment Study Visit.

With best wishes for the weekend,

David Landsman

Executive Chair  

British Expertise International

Event Recordings and Resources:

(Member access only)‍

• FCDO Development Director Series: Ukraine
• DFAT: Tender Requirements and Bid Writing
• Inclusivity in Early Warning Systems
• Water Risk & Finance: Bridging the Gap
• Rwanda Market Opportunity Overview
• Procurement Opportunities with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia
• Strengthening Equitable and Inclusive Health

Upcoming BEI Events:

• Tuesday 14th July 2026 09:00 – 10:00 BST: Philippines Market Opportunity Overview - Join us on 14th July for a Market Opportunity Overview of the Philippines. This session will provide a macro-economic overview of the opportunities in the country, as well as a deep dive into the Infrastructure, Technology and Energy sectors.
• Wednesday 22nd July 2026 09:00 – 10:30 BST: Asian Development Bank Procurement Clinic -  Join us for an online procurement workshop with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), organised in partnership with the British Embassy in Manila, where we will explore how UK companies can best access and compete for ADB-financed opportunities across Asia.
• Date and Time TBC: Working with the Inter-American Development Bank - Join us for a virtual webinar with the Inter-American Development Bank. Our panel of speakers will explore the IDB's work as a principle source of financing, technical expertise and knowledge for sustainable and inclusive development. The IDB will share an update on its strategy, alongside information about how it works with suppliers and guidance on navigating its procurement process.
• Date and Time TBC: Strategic Infrastructure Partnerships: UK-Korea Collaboration in Third Markets - Join us and DBT Seoul for a webinar exploring UK–Korea collaboration in third-country infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on Ukraine’s reconstruction. The session will introduce the UK–Korea MoU and highlight how UK and Korean organisations can best partner on international projects.

Register for an upcoming event →

External Events and Resources:

• July 2026: Middle East Association - UK Roadshow - The MEA UK Roadshow is a dynamic multi-city business series connecting UK companies with one of the world's fastest-growing and most opportunity-rich regions. Each event brings together senior business leaders, investors, Government representatives, professional services firms, and regional experts for a focused programme covering trade, investment, market entry, and commercial growth across the Gulf and wider Middle East. BEI members are able to use a discount code and secure tickets for £50. Please email Sofia Pennacchietti via sp@britishexpertise.org to receive the discount code.
• 23rd July - Save the Date: Jordan-UK Business Forum: This forum will take place under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and will bring together Jordan and British companies across a range of sectors. Please email Sofia Pennacchietti via sp@britishexpertise.org to enquire about joining.
• 28th - 30th July: UK- Indonesia Rail Forum 2026 Building on the momentum from the UK-Indonesia Rail Roundtable in London (February 2026), the UK- Indonesia Rail Forum 2026 will bring together senior stakeholders from government and industry to translate dialogue into practical collaboration. The Rail Forum will take place in Jakarta between 28th - 30th July. Please email Joel Morro, Government Partnerships Project Lead, DBT London at Joel.Morro@businessandtrade.gov.uk and  Efrizal Saputra, Head of Infrastructure, DBT Jakarta at Efrizal.Saputra@fcdo.gov.uk.
• 7th October 2026 16:00 - 17:30 CET: BID for the Americas: Increasing Business Opportunities for European Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean - Learn how the IDB supports European companies expanding their business engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean through trade promotion, project financing, public procurement, and investment. (Virtual Webinar)
• 11th - 13th November 2026: Africa PPP Summit in Nairobi, Kenya: the 16th Africa PPP Summit is co-convened by Kenya PPP Directorate and supported by the State Department for Public Investment & Asset management, National Treasury, Kenya. This years theme is "Building Africa’s Prosperity: Transformative Infrastructure, Investment and Partnerships to Accelerate Economic Development”. BEI members have an exclusive 10% discount. Please email Sofia Pennacchietti via sp@britishexperitse.org for more information.
• Cambridge Education Legacy Webinar Series - A special legacy webinar series sharing key lessons from 45 years of supporting education systems worldwide, with a look ahead to the future of the global education sector.
• AI for Social Impact Webcast Series from Accenture - A series of one-hour sessions, open to all organisations in the social impact sector, including non-profits and social enterprises. Each webcast will focus on a key theme within AI, designed to be relevant and applicable to social impact organisations of a variety of sizes, geographies, and current levels of AI proficiency.
• City & Guilds: Essential Digital Skills: Employer Perceptions Survey

News & Articles:

• Report: Overseas Territories Trade and Investment Study Visit - British Expertise International and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Paper: Water Risk and Finance: Bridging the Gap - British Expertise International and the Water Resilience Working Group
• Article: London Stansted Airport: Manchester Airports Group's (MAG) Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue - British Expertise International
• Press Release: Minister of Investment of Jordan, H.E. Tareq Abughazaleh and UK industry leaders meet for talks on trade and investment opportunities - British Expertise International
• Article: North London Heat and Power Project: WSP – EcoPark Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue - British Expertise International
• News: Beyond the deal: How the GCC-UK trade deal opens new era of economic partnership - Arab News
• Press Release: UK Government and industry partners host senior Omani delegation for talks on private‑sector investment partnerships ahead of the UK-GCC FTA announcement
• Article: Blue-Green Infrastructure in Urban Areas: UKCEH Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue by British Expertise International
• Article: Innovative Solutions to Water Challenges: HR Wallingford's Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue by British Expertise International
• Article: Ocean Economy Satellite Accounts: Water Research Centre’s (WRc) Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue by British Expertise International
• Article: Delivering a Better World: AECOM's Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue by British Expertise International
• Press Release: British Expertise International (BEI) to receive board seat and support secretariat for Infrastructure Exports UK (IE:UK) by British Expertise International
• Showcase: Gender Equity in Action – Building a Fairer Future by British Expertise International and its members
• Article: Integrated Masterplanning: Arup’s Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade and Investment Dialogue by British Expertise International
• Press Release: BEI and FCDO Co-Convene Trade and Investment Study Visit with a Ministerial Delegation from the Overseas Territories (OT’s) by British Expertise International
• Article: Leading with Science®: Tetra Tech’s Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue by British Expertise International
• Article: British Expertise International (BEI) hosts a ministerial delegation from the Ministry of Roads and Highways (MoRH), Ghana by British Expertise International
• Article: Middle East High-Risk Insurance by Bellwood Prestbury
• News: John Pelton MBE Joins British Expertise International (BEI) as Senior Adviser by British Expertise International
• News: Strategy International Group’s Advisory Board Member: The Lord Forbes of Newcastle CBE by British Expertise International
• Press Release: Minister Gabriel Oddone travels to the United Kingdom to strengthen economic and financial ties by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Uruguay
• Press Release: British Expertise International – Helping UK Education Service Providers to Forge Global Partnerships by British Expertise International
• Yearly review: Strategy International 2025 Yearbook by Strategy International
• Article: 2025 Christmas Message from British Expertise International
• Report: From Strategy to Delivery: What New Zealand Can Learn from the UK Infrastructure System from Infrastructure New Zealand
• Written evidence: Future of UK aid and development assistance from British Expertise International
• Communique: UK and Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council 2025: communiqué from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Article: Infrastructure as Legacy: UK Perspectives on Strategic Delivery and Innovation by Sasha Barnes and Sofia Pennacchietti
• Press Release: Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council Business Engagement Session from British Expertise International
• Article: Why Water is Everyone’s Business: A UK Perspective on Global Water Challenges by Evie Ramsay
• Article: Ukraine’s Recovery – Mobilising Private Sector Engagement by Sasha Barnes
• Article: Global Energy Landscapes: Key Takeaways and Insights by Sofia Pennacchietti
• Press Release: Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, South Africa, Mr Dean Macpherson at British Expertise International (BEI) from British Expertise International
• Article: Shaping the Future of the Higher Education Sector by Evie Ramsay
• Article: With FCDO slashing budgets, where will UK NGOs turn for funding? from DevEx
• Report: Water Resilience - Unlocking local and global benefits through collaboration (Second Edition) by British Expertise International & Water Resilience Working Group
• Report: Systems Strengthening: The UK Education providers’ contribution to the global education systems by British Expertise International & Education Working Group
• Report: Beyond Boundaries: The Role of UK-Based Organisations in Advancing Global Gender Equality and Social Inclusion by British Expertise International and its members delivering GES

Not a member?

Apply for membership →

‍
Learn more

For more information about British Expertise International: Sign up to receive this Weekly Update

• View our upcoming events
• Becoming a member
• Follow us on X‍
• Follow us on Linkedin