BEI Weekly Update - 3rd October 2025

Dear Members and Friends,

Despite my interest in the language, I can’t say that Russian literature is often the first thing that comes to my mind in BEI. However, reflecting this week on the challenges facing those - whether directly in the “international development” sector or from elsewhere in our membership - who are feeling the coming cuts in ODA budgets, I was reminded of the famous opening line of Anna Karenina: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” The reality is that, though we often feel that we are under unique pressure (and every case is indeed different), peers in many Western countries are experiencing similar challenges, for a similar though different cocktail of economic and political factors. The old world isn’t coming back. I have the sense that the sector is - of necessity - moving fairly swiftly through the so-called five stages of grief and is now well into the phase of acceptance and, more importantly, identifying new ways forward.

This is where we at BEI aim to come in. I’ve mentioned before that we are engaging with a wider range of donors, from foundations to emerging economies bilaterally. We are working on a number of events but please do get in touch if there are specific areas you are interested in. The multilateral development banks are also facing funding pressures but, from a UK point of view, the fact that British companies and organisations tend to have been underrepresented in many of the development banks’ projects means that there are genuine opportunities with a better alignment between banks and suppliers. This is an area which we are actively working on with the banks and will be reflected in a number of events in the coming months. Again, your thoughts on priorities are very welcome. It goes without saying that we will continue our programme with UKEF, BII and other relevant institutions too.

Finally, private finance is now undoubtedly the future in many areas. While this isn’t new, it is a relatively underexploited resource with much untapped potential. As discussed during our Global Energy Landscapes event this week, to achieve net zero targets by 2050, annual clean energy investment worldwide will need to more than triple by 2030 to around $4 trillion. It is unlikely that public funding alone will be sufficient to meet this scale of demand, and so, the private sector has a significant role to play in bridging the gap and accelerating the transition through more strategic investment and innovation. Nonetheless, this will only be possible with consistent and credible signals from governments - long-term infrastructure planning, clear regulatory frameworks and an enabling environment that reduces risk and encourages private capital.

There’s a big challenge in overcoming differences in the language private and public sectors (and their ecosystems) use to describe opportunities and price risk. With that, I believe BEI is well placed to make a difference by facilitating a genuinely two-way exchange, both to introduce member organisations to new sources of finance but also to draw on our members’ experience to provide insights based on practical experience in multiple sectors and geographies. We have already begun to engage with private finance in climate and beyond; again, I welcome your thoughts as we explore the potential for a programme in this area.

This week we were glad to host an in-person panel discussion on energy in partnership with our colleagues at The D Group. The event brought together a diverse group of speakers to share insights into international investment trends, regulatory developments, technological progress and industrial transformation. A central theme of the discussion was the growing complexity of the energy transition. As the sector moves beyond early and more accessible gains, it faces increasingly difficult challenges within a turbulent geopolitical context. However, with these challenges also come important opportunities. The speakers observed that market dynamics continue to support the expansion of renewable energy and that sustained innovation and investment will be critical to achieving climate and net zero objectives. We are grateful to Campbell Keir, President of the Energy Industries Council; Stephen Nash, Managing Director at Kuungana Advisory; and Benjamin Lemaitre, Group Strategy Director at Dalkia UK, for their thoughtful contributions and expert perspectives.

Coming up, and following our recent “Infrastructure Opportunities in South Africa” webinar, we are hosting a senior representative of the South African government for an in-person roundtable on Tuesday 14th October – invitations will be sent out next week, but please contact Alex Murr (am@britishexpertise.org) in the meantime if you would like to register your interest.

We also look forward to another joint BEI/D Group event, this time in association with the Global Summit series: ‍, which takes place here at Birdcage Walk on 22nd October from 14:00 – 16:30 (rescheduled from early September). We will be hosting key stakeholders in the water sector, exploring strategies and insights needed to tackle water-related challenges. We look forward to hearing from Simon Ayley, Director of Strategic Growth Partnerships at WRc; Andy Roby, Senior Water Security Adviser at FCDO; Charlie Stratford, Head of Business and Partnership Development at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; and Jonathan Clark, Associate Director of Data Centres & Advanced Technology at Gleeds. If you are interested in joining, register here.

On 23rd October, we look forward to two online events. The first, an Education Deep Dive: Tajikistan (10:00 – 11:00 BST), will be led by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan. They will provide us with an overview and insights into the key education sector opportunities available for British businesses, advice on cultural understanding and tips for navigating the market. If you are interested in joining, register here.

The second, Trade and Investment Opportunities in the British Overseas Territories (14:00 – 15:30 BST), will be a valuable opportunity to explore the growing business potential across the British Overseas Territories (OTs), focusing on key industries including infrastructure, professional services, and more. We will hear from our colleagues at the FCDO, and from government officials across the British OTs. If you are interested in joining, register here.

Looking ahead to November, we are delighted to introduce the first in a series of events in our international development programme focusing on the emerging links between international development and key geopolitical topics. On 19th November, please join us for Intersections of International Development and National Security, where we will explore how and where international development and defence intersect, and how the UK can make the most of these synergies to support a coherent approach in line with the objectives set out in the National Security Strategy. If you are interested in joining, register here.

Finally, on behalf of our member Deloitte, we are sharing a final invitation to complete the UK Sanctions Perceptions Survey. This is an opportunity to have your say on how the UK Government implements sanctions compliance requirements in the future. The input of our members will be invaluable to the Government and will contribute to identifying knowledge gaps, exploring ways to improve industry compliance, and minimising barriers to legitimate business. The deadline for completion has been extended to 10th October to accommodate the significant interest we are seeing from industry: you have just over one week to submit your response.

I hope there is something here of interest to everyone, from our immediate programme to our future plans. I look forward to your feedback. In the meantime, warm wishes for the weekend ahead,

Executive Chairman

British Expertise International 

‍Key events coming up include the following:

• 16th October 2025 12:00 – 12:30 BST: 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.
• 22nd October 2025 14:00 – 16:30 BST: Turning Water Risk into Resilience - By bringing together key stakeholders who operate outside the regulated water sector yet face equally pressing water risks, this event, delivered in partnership with the Global Summit series, aims to provide UK organisations with the strategies and insights needed to safeguard their operations and adapt to future water-related challenges.
• 23rd October 2025 10:00 – 11:00 BST: Education Deep Dive: Tajikistan -  Join us for a webinar deep dive into education opportunities in Tajikistan led by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan. Colleagues will provide us with an overview and insights into the key education sector opportunities available for British businesses, advice on cultural understanding, and tips for navigating the Tajik market.
• 23rd October 2025 14:00 – 15:00 BST: Trade and Investment Opportunities in the British Overseas Territories - This webinar is a valuable opportunity to explore the growing business potential across the British Overseas Territories (OTs). Discover what makes these jurisdictions unique and learn about exciting opportunities in sectors such as infrastructure, professional services, and more. Whether you're looking to expand, invest, or collaborate, this session will offer key insights into dynamic markets across the OTs.
• 4th November 2025 10:00 – 11:30 GMT: India - Water Resilience - India is facing growing pressure on its water systems due to a combination of climate change, rapid urbanisation. Extreme weather events such as floods and heatwaves are becoming more frequent, while challenges like pollution and ageing infrastructure are making water resilience a national priority. This presents a significant opportunity for UK companies with expertise in water management, climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure.
• 19th November 2025 09:30 – 12:30 GMT: Intersections of International Development and National Security - Given the growing national security priorities of the UK Government and the recent cuts to the aid budget, this event will offer a timely and engaging platform to explore the intersection between international development and national security. It also presents a valuable opportunity to discuss how development actors can align their programmes more closely with the UK’s strategic interests.
• Date TBA 11:00 – 12:30: Infrastructure Opportunities in Nigeria - This webinar offers a focused deep dive into Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape with a focus on several specific projects well suited for the UK supply chain.

External Events and Reports:

• ‍9th October 2025: World Bank’s upcoming Virtual Global Supplier Webinar - Two sessions available to accommodate global time zones | 09:00 - 10:30 AM (DC Time) and 09:00 - 10:30 PM (DC Time) - These high-level sessions will feature speakers from the banks project procurement and infrastructure teams, offering strategic insights into the procurement pipeline for World Bank-financed projects, particularly in the Energy, Transport, and Water sectors, which together account for over 50% of international contracts. We will also present recent enhancements to our procurement framework designed to improve supplier engagement and reduce barriers to participation.
• ‍20th October 2025 - Perpetrator-Centred Prevention - Join the Safeguarding Leads Network, with speakers Sarah Maquire and Elizabeth Wright on Perpetrator-Centred Prevention. The session will explore the hidden risks organisations face in inadvertently recruiting perpetrators, how workplace culture can either deter or enable misconduct, and practical steps to prevent Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH). This session is designed for Heads of Business Units (HoBs), senior leadership, and heads of HR, Ethics, Compliance and Legal. To register your interest in the session, please email sln@britishexpertise.org. ‍
• 28th – 31st October 2025: AME Trade - 15th edition of Africa PPP in Windhoek, Namibia - Africa PPP 2025 is the longest running infrastructure finance, investment, and partnership summit, focused on increasing private sector participation in infrastructure development through viable PPPs and innovative financing mechanisms, for a sustainable economic growth. The event is organized with the support of Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the Ministry of Works and Transport of Namibia at the prestigious Hilton Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia. Africa PPP includes two-days Conference, one day masterclass on Project Preparation and one day Touristic and/or Technical Tours.

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