BEI and FCDO Co-Convene Trade and Investment Study Visit with a Ministerial Delegation from the Overseas Territories (OT’s)

British Expertise International (BEI) and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Complete a Trade and Investment Study Visit with a Ministerial Delegation from the Overseas Territories (OT’s)

London, United Kingdom – From 23rd to 27th March, a delegation from across the Overseas Territories embarked on a UK Trade and Investment Study Visit, co-convened by British Expertise International (BEI) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The delegation includes representatives from Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, St. Helena, Turks and Caicos, Montserrat, and Tristan Da Cunha, with the aim of enhancing commercial partnerships with UK organisations and discussing economic development.  

The delegation engaged with a range of UK organisations from across BEI’s member base to showcase UK capabilities in sectors aligned with OT needs and to foster new pathways for collaboration. The delegation explored climate resilience, airport infrastructure, waste-to-energy solutions and the blue economy, meeting with top expertise in these areas, including Tetra Tech, Arup, WSP and AECOM.

The group took part in multiple site visits, including a waste-to-energy site serving the seven North London boroughs, Stanstead Airport for a tour with the airport's operator, Manchester Airports Group, and Acrow Global to explore climate-resilient modular bridges and robotics manufacturing. The delegation also engaged with leading water sector specialists, including the Water Research Centre (WRc), UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), and HR Wallingford, to explore water and ocean resilience.

British Expertise International (BEI) is a leading business development network for UK-based companies that export expertise in infrastructure, climate change, education, skills, and international development services, particularly to fast-growing, emerging, and developing international markets. Building on BEI’s engagement last year with the FCDO  OT and Polar Directorate, including at the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in November with OT Premiers and senior officials, this mission continued to explore how UK expertise can support sustainable growth and development in the OT’s. Following the JMC, the FCDO set out its commitments to the OT's in a communiqué on sustainable economic development, which welcomed collaboration and engagement with BEI.

As Dr David Landsman OBE, Executive Chair at BEI, states, “at British Expertise International, we work every day with consultants and experts who have a huge amount to contribute in key areas from climate mitigation and adaptation to the blue economy and resilient infrastructure development. That’s why this week’s mission was an exceptional opportunity to facilitate international collaboration to tackle critical issues and explore the potential for collaboration on economic development in the broadest sense. We’re grateful to the delegation from across the OT’s and to the FCDO for partnering with BEI to play a vital role in connecting UK businesses to opportunities that drive mutual prosperity for both the UK and the OTs.”

This mission provided a platform for industry to engage with OT decision-makers to build relationships, exchange ideas, and identify tailored partnership and investment opportunities aligned with diversification goals. As part of the mission's activities, BEI, FCDO, and the Caribbean Council held a networking reception on Wednesday, 25th March, during which Robbie Bulloch, Director for the Overseas Territories and Polar Directorate, delivered opening remarks.

As Robbie Bulloch states, “this visit builds directly on the productive discussions at the JMC and supports the commitments set out in the communiqué on sustainable economic development. By strengthening the practical links between UK industry and the OTs, we are helping to unlock new opportunities, drive investment and build a more resilient and prosperous future across the Territories.”

About British Expertise International (BEI)

British Expertise International (BEI) is a membership network dedicated to supporting UK-based organisations in exporting the best of UK expertise in professional services. BEI works across a range of key service sectors, including infrastructure and energy, climate and nature, education and skills, and international development. For 60 years, BEI has connected members with global opportunities by leveraging strong relationships with His Majesty’s Government (HMG), foreign governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, commercial stakeholders, and the broader private sector.

Further Information:

Media Contact: Sofia Pennacchietti

Email: sp@britishexpertise.org