Aug 28, 2026

BEI Weekly Update - 28th August 2026

by

David Landsman

by

Dear Members and Friends,

I hope that you've had - or are maybe still enjoying - a good summer break. I don't intend to interrupt the Bank Holiday weekend with a full newsletter, which will return next week. In the meantime, here's a quick roundup of the first few events for the new "term".

Wednesday 2nd September 2026 09:00 – 10:30 BST: Republic of Korea - Market Opportunity Overview -Join us online for a market opportunity overview with the British Embassy in Seoul, where we will explore the practical opportunities, challenges and support available to UK organisations who are looking to do business in Korea or partner with Korean companies on third-country collaboration opportunities, particularly in Ukraine.

‍Tuesday 8th September 2026 15:00 – 16:00 BST: SME wider community engagement with the FCDO SME Advisory Forum - BEI is delighted to continue supporting the members of FCDO’s SME Advisory Forum to engage with the wider SME community. Our aim is both to ensure that members of the Advisory Forum are briefed on the full range of views of the SME supplier community and to enable them to provide feedback on the discussions after their meetings.

‍Tuesday 8th September 2026 18:30 – 20:30 BST: UK-ADB Business Connect: Grids, Growth and Connectivity in Southeast Asia-Join us, BIST and the ADB for a business engagement evening covering energy sector priorities, procurement processes and regional grid connectivity across Southeast Asia. Attendees will hear from ADB specialists and have the opportunity to engage directly with ADB's energy leadership, UK government and private sector stakeholders.Please note: this event is taking place at The Wellington by Blue Orchid Hotels, 71 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PA.

‍‍Wednesday 16th September 2026 16:00 – 19:00 BST: Water Risk & Finance: Bridging the Gap -Join us and Accenture for an in-person launch of our "Water Risk & Finance: Bridging the Gap" paper, where our panel of contributors will explore what it takes to package water resilience and nature projects for private investment – and what financiers are looking for in return.Please note this event will take place at Accenture, 30 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 3BD.

‍Thursday 17th September 2026 17:00 – 18:30 BST: Public Affairs: New ways to manage complexity -Join us for an informal roundtable session with Terence Lyons, CEO of TSC.ai, where we will convene public affairs and government relations specialists to share and discuss how emerging technology can maximise their reach and impact, especially ahead of the major party conferences.

‍Thursday 24th September 2026 11:00 – 12:30 BST: FCDO Development Director Series: Tanzania - Join us on 3rd September as Anna Wilson, the Development Director in Tanzania for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), offers us updates on the current context on the ground as well as insights into FCDO’s development strategy in Tanzania.

‍Tuesday 29th September 2026 14:00 – 16:00 BST: Troubled Waters: The Strait of Hormuz in Focus -Join usfor a panel discussion on the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab, looking at the wider regional security picture and the implications for Yemen, maritime security, and Gulf dynamics.

‍Wednesday 7th October 2026 14:00 – 17:00 BST: The Power of Social and Emotional Learning: What happens when we get Early Years Education right? - Join usfor an in-depth panel discussion focused on embedding Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in early years education and the wider societal impact this has.

‍Monday 12th October 2026 15:30 – 17:00 BST: Resilience, Rights, and Reconstruction in Ukraine -BEI are delighted to host Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, for an event held in collaboration with Insulate Ukraine that examines resilience and reconstruction efforts across the country.

If you have any additional questions, please email events@britishexpertise.org. We look forward to seeing you in September.

Wishing you a restful bank holiday weekend,

David Landsman

Executive Chair

British Expertise International

‍

External Events & Resources:

2nd September 2026 13:00 - 14:30 BST: World Bank Procurement for Development Webinar on Digital Procurement Opportunities - This is a dedicated session to help industry suppliers tap into new Multilateral Development Bank (MDB)-financed opportunities in the digital sector. You will hear from the World Bank Group (WBG) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), about procurement opportunities available in select high impact digital projects.
14th September 2026: Have your say! Consultation launched for Indonesia, Philippines, UAE & Uruguay - BIST has launched a consultation on deepening the UK’s trade relationships with Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay. This consultation will inform the next phase of the United Kingdom’s trade relationships as we determine how best to engage with these countries through CPTPP accession discussions or other trade policy mechanisms, including bilateral free trade agreements where applicable and relevant. You can read the Information Notes and submit your views and evidence here.
18th September - 2nd October 2026: D Contemporary and Conflict Textiles Exhibition: The Silent Vocal Language of Textiles - This September, to mark the International Day of Peace, we are working with Conflict Textiles to present The Silent Vocal Language of Textiles. The exhibition brings together historical arpilleras on loan from Ulster University, made by people living through conflict and its aftermath.
21st - 24th September 2026: ADB Business Opportunities Fair 2026 in Metro Manila, Philippines - The Business Opportunities Fair will bring together ADB operational teams and suppliers across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, transport, energy, water, urban development, finance, digital, environment and climate, agribusiness, health, education, public sector management, and consulting services. Please email businessopportunities@adb.org for more information.
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)
17th - 19th November 2026: Ed Tech Pavilion at Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town, South Africa - A curated exhibition floor inside Africa's largest tech event - 13,500+ decision-makers, 650+ policymakers, 250 investors. Stands, pitch slots, and pre-qualified buyer meetings for education and skills companies entering African markets. Packages close early September. Contact: ernest@edtechexchange.africa or Complete the expression of interest form.