BEI Weekly Update - 30th January 2026

Dear Members and Friends,

When it comes to Free Trade Agreements, some celebrate specific new opportunities, others worry about the threat to domestic producers and economists sometimes argue that they often don’t make much of a difference. But it pays not to take too narrow a view, especially when looking at some of the UK’s recent deals with some of the world’s fastest growing markets, including those which are among BEI members’ top priorities. Even if the immediate boost to trade is modest, opening up markets can enhance business networks as well as making a strategic difference, with critical minerals as an increasingly important example. That said, the traditional view is that FTAs are all about reducing tariffs and quotas on goods. But, as the line between goods and services is increasingly faint, it’s important for UK services exporters to understand the opportunities. So it was good that this week we were able to collaborate with DBT to bring our members a briefing on the latest deals – CPTPP and the UK/India FTA in particular – and what they offer the services sector. More detail below.

At the session we hosted in partnership with DBT on Tuesday this week, our speakers from the DBT Free Trade Agreement Utilisation Team, Olivia Herford and John Austin-Sheridan, explored how FTAs can enhance competitiveness and support sustainable international growth, focusing the discussion on India, the Republic of Korea and the GCC region. They highlighted how British businesses can benefit from the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major bloc whose members - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and now the UK - have a combined GDP of £12 trillion. Many thanks to DBT colleagues for taking the time to be with us.  We will be posting a summary of the takeaways on the BEI website shortly.

While I look forward to seeing a number of members next week, the next event in our programme takes place on Thursday 10 February in the form of a webinar in partnership with Arup on Reducing Risk and Unlocking Funding for Water Resilience. As adaptation finance for the water sector in no way matches demand, this session aims to help UK organisations better understand the conditions for creating investment-ready projects which reduce climate risk and unlock funding for vital urban water infrastructure. If you are interested in joining, please register here.

We are planning an interesting session at the nexus of international development and energy: on Thursday 26 February, we will host a session to look at the new ICAI review on UK aid for energy transition. Harold Freeman, lead Commissioner for this review along with other panellists will discuss the findings of the report and the Government’s response and consider how UK aid can be used most effectively in this area. The event is not yet open to register online, but please do watch this space.

Artificial intelligence continues to inspire great excitement as well as considerable concern.  Its uses among the most vulnerable is particularly sensitive.  On Tuesday 3 March will host an in-person event, the first in a series, on the ethical use of AI in international development.  Speakers will highlight frameworks for the ethical use of AI across the international development sector, how AI can accelerate sustainable development, the challenges and opportunities for AI integration in emerging and developing countries, supported by some innovative case studies. If you’re interested, please register here.

‍While on the subject of AI, we congratulate BEI member Wiley on the signature of a number of strategic partnerships with the British Educational Research Association and AI leaders including Perplexity, Pi School and Amazon Web Services. More detail in Wiley’s press releases.

Finally, Fathom, also a BEI member, has launched FathomDEM+, a global terrain dataset that sets a new standard for elevation consistency. FathomDEM+ enables engineers, infrastructure planners and risk analysts to work from a consistent terrain foundation across regions. Click here for more about FathomDEM+.

I hope you have seen some of our social media reporting of the series of events we curated around BETT London: more about those, and the BEI members involved, can be found on our website, here.

With warm wishes for whatever you have planned for the weekend,

David Landsman

Executive Chair  

British Expertise International

Event Recordings and Resources:

(Member access only)‍

• 27th January 2026 - Unlocking Free Trade Agreements and CPTPP in Practice
• 22nd January 2026 - COP30 Insights
• 10th December 2025 - Integrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into Education Systems
• 2nd December 2025 - Working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• 4th November 2025 - India - Water Resilience
• 23rd October 2025 - Trade and Investment Opportunities in the British Overseas Territories
• 18th September 2025 - Infrastructure Opportunities in South Africa
• 16th September 2025 - Meet UKEF: Asia and the Middle-East

Upcoming BEI Events:

• 10th February 2026 13:30 – 15:00 GMT: Meet the Minister of Economy & Finance, Uruguay -  Join us for a dialogue with Gabriel Oddone, Minister of Economy & Finance in Uruguay, and senior colleagues from the Ministry of Economy & Finance This roundtable event will provide the Minister with the opportunity to engage with UK companies with an interest in Uruguay, as well as providing a platform for UK organisations to gain market insights and demonstrate their expertise.‍
• 12th February 2025 14:00 – 15:30 GMT: Reducing Risk & Unlocking Funding for Water Resilience- Adaptation finance for the water sector remains minimal compared to the level of need. This session, in partnership with Arup, will aim to help UK organisations better understand the conditions for creating investment-ready environments which reduce climate risk and unlock funding for vital urban water infrastructure.‍
• 19th February 2026 12:00 – 13:00 GMT: Water Resilience Working Group - The UK has a distinctive offer and world-leading expertise in sustainable and climate-resilient water services. This group, in partnership with UK government, IFIs and other key stakeholders, aims to define that offer and leverage it to increase exports.‍
• 26th February 2026 13:30 – 15:30 GMT: ICAI Review: UK Aid for Energy Transition - A new review from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) assesses the effectiveness of the UK’s support for clean energy transition in low- and middle-income countries. Join Harold Freeman, lead commissioner at ICAI for this review, and other panellists to discuss the findings of the report, the government’s response and how UK aid can be used most effectively to meet this global challenge.
• 3rd March 2026 10:00 – 12:00 GMT: Ethical AI in International Development - As the first in a series of upcoming events, this in-person panel will provide a timely opportunity to explore the role of AI in international development. Speakers will highlight frameworks for the ethical use of AI across the international development sector, how AI can accelerate sustainable development, the challenges and opportunities for AI integration in emerging and developing countries, alongside corresponding case studies.

Register for an upcoming event →

News & Articles:

• 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

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