Dear Members and Friends,
I’ve enjoyed meeting a number of members this week to discuss how BEI can support their work through (and beyond) our regular events programme. The effort in Grafton Street this week has been focused largely on preparing our two major reports on Education and Water Resilience. We’ll have the opportunity to thank those members who have contributed to the working groups when the reports are published, but I’m already very clear that we can only create high-value and deployable content because of the commitment of our members. It’s a great endorsement of what we’re trying to do that you give up valuable business time to these activities. I’m glad to say that we’re also working hard on preparing this year’s “Meet the Ambassador” (and High Commissioner…) series which will take place, some in person and some virtually, at the end of June and early July. More to follow soon.
This week saw the third in our “Election Watch” series in which Nick Forbes led a discussion on the “Devolution Arms and Place Race”. We’ll share a short report soon. Meanwhile, the next in the series should be of interest to many of our members: ‘Britain’s Place in the World: Linking Foreign and Defence Policy with Trade’ - At a macro level David Lammy, Shadow Foreign Secretary, has spelled out some of Labour’s key foreign policy focus areas, rooted in a ‘progressive realism’ with the UK becoming more active in promoting a values-based global order. In addition, Labour’s industrial strategy is clear on the need to identify, nurture and support ‘Global Champions’. Coming from a range of sectors, the aim is that they should be the most highly productive and export intensive industries creating well-paid jobs. In this session, Nick will explore Labour’s latest pronouncements on how it sees the alignment of foreign and defence policy with international trade. You can sign up here.
Also this week, Strategy International including BEI joined in a warm 'goodbye' to Ambassador Long of Viet Nam, who has been one of the stars of the London diplomatic corps in the last few years, during which time he has materially advanced Viet Nam/ UK relations during his stay in London. It’s been our privilege to host a number of important trade and cultural events with the Ambassador and we look forward to continuing the relationship with his successor.
Next week, in our “Meet the FCDO Development Director” series on Tuesday 14th May, we will welcome Amanda McLoughlin, who is Development Director in Indonesia as well as Minister-Counsellor (Development) at the UK Mission to ASEAN. She will present FCDO’s development strategy, programming and pipeline of opportunities in Indonesia as well as discuss the UK’s development engagement with the ASEAN Secretariat.
On Thursday 16 May, we are pleased to be hosting ‘Addressing the Skills Gap’ , a joint BEI/D Group in-person roundtable led by Pearson. Pearson will provide a better understanding of the current skills gap in the UK and globally. They will also discuss solutions for employers, with the aim of building a sustainable approach to developing skills capable of responding to future economic and global transformation, especially in the infrastructure and climate change sectors. This event is fully booked, but there will be a report on the key takeaways after the event.
Finally from me, a few members (particularly in international development) have raised with us concerns about the FCDO’s travel advice notices, suggesting that an over-restrictive approach can limit their ability to operate in precisely the challenging environments where support is most needed and where some foreign competitors appear to have greater flexibility. I have recently discussed this with members of the FCDO’s Consular Directorate. They noted that the FCDO’s advice is just that - advice, based on their assessment of the risk – and it applies to all British visitors regardless of specific circumstances. At the same time, when the advice is against “all except essential travel”, individuals and companies can interpret this as appropriate. Travel advice is regularly updated as risks change. It can therefore become less restrictive just as much as more: see, for example, the recent relaxation for large parts of Western Ukraine. FCDO is open to a dialogue with us on this important issue. If you have further questions, please let me know.
It remains for me to wish you an enjoyable – and, in the UK at least, apparently sunny – weekend. For your weekend reading, you might like to take a look at BFPG’s blog on COP29,
David Landsman
Executive Chairman
British Expertise International
Recordings of recent past events:
- 18th April: Operating in Complex Environments
- 23rd April: Kenya - Opportunities in Infrastructure, Energy, and Climate
- 23rd April: USAID: Developing Strategies
Key events coming up include the following:
- 14th May 2024 09:00 - 10:30 BST: FCDO Development Director: Indonesia & Minister-Counseller Development in UK Mission to ASEAN - Join us as we host Amanda McLoughlin, FCDO Development Director in Indonesia for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), as well as Minister-Counsellor Development for the UK Mission ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations), who will present FCDO’s development strategy, programming and pipeline of opportunities in Indonesia and in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat.
- 16th May 2024 16:00-18:30 BST: Addressing the Skills Gap - Join us for an in-person round table on Addressing the Skills Gap. Pearson will provide a better understanding of the current skills gap in the UK and globally. They will also discuss solutions for employers which build towards a sustainable approach to developing skills that is able to respond to future economic and global transformation, especially in the infrastructure and climate change sectors.
- 23rd May 2024 16:00 - 17:00 BST: Britain’s Place in the World: Linking Foreign and Defense Policy with Trade - Labour has spelled out its view of ‘progressive realism’, which sees the UK becoming more active in promoting a values-based global order. In addition, Labour’s industrial strategy is clear on the need to identify ‘global champions’. From a range of sectors, these businesses are highly productive and create thousands of well-paid jobs. Labour has made it clear they understand the need to create a stable environment for these global champions.
- 12th June 2024 16:00-17:00 BST: Britain’s Place in the World: Does Charity Begin at Home? - The Labour Party clearly recognise the importance of the UK’s investment in development. They have stressed the importance of focus and prioritisation of effort aligned to the UK’s core strengths, while continuing to support the poorest countries and communities globally. As a key pillar of UK foreign policy and tangible evidence of the UK’s soft power, the specific plans and priorities will be important beyond the development community.
- 13th June 2024 16:00-19:00 BST: Skills & Training WG: Skills - Sectoral Approach - Our June Skills & Training Working Group will look at the importance of taking a sectoral and thematic approach to international skills provision. This session will be led by Jonathan Ledger CMgr FCMI, Skills and Professional Bodies Specialist at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and new Expert Adviser to BEI’s Working Group; and Jane Rexworthy, FInstLM, Chartered FCIPD, Executive Director at People 1st International and Chair of the UK Skills Partnership (UKSP).
- 18th June 2024 14:00 - 15:00 BST: FCDO Development Director: Mozambique - Join us as we host Dominic Ashton, Development Director in Mozambique for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), who will present FCDO’s development strategy, programming and pipeline of opportunities in Mozambique.
- 26th June 2024 16:00 - 17:00 BST: What is Infrastructure for Opportunity and Does it Mean Game Over for Levelling Up? - Labour clearly sees the link between infrastructure investment and wider economic growth. They have expressed their intention to drive quicker and cheaper delivery of major projects, unlocking private sector investment. The announcement of the British Infrastructure Council signals Labour’s intention to turn this into reality.
- 3rd July 2024 16:00 - 17:00 BST: Britain’s Place in The World: Using UK Soft Power More Effectively - If Labour wins the election, they will be keen to ensure that the UK’s reputation on a global stage becomes part of its toolkit to drive economic and social prosperity. From their commitment to the culture and the arts, to their belief in the strength of the UK’s reputation across sport and education, soft power has a key role to play.
Register for an upcoming event →
External Events
- May 29th 2024: Pre-Mission Webinar: Ghana/Nigeria UK Mission - WHY VISIT GHANA & NIGERIA? FCDO Event – Registration link to be released soon.
- June 17th – 27th 2024: Made in the UK Sold to the Indo-Pacific: Meet The Experts - Want to hear from sector specialists, market experts and other companies about opportunities in the Indo-Pacific? This two week series of in-person events is run by the UK Government and their partners.
- June 19th – 20th 2024: MINEX Central Asia: MINEX Central Asia Mining and Exploration Forum is taking place in Bishkek under the general theme "The Prospects and Scenarios for Sustainable Development of the Mining Industry in Central Asia". MINEX Central Asia Forum provides a cross-regional platform for presenting and discussing investment and technological opportunities for the development of mineral resources, green energy transfer and the modernisation of industrial infrastructure across the Central Asian countries.
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