The government will next week be hosting a programme of events, webinars and workshops promoting the opportunities that global trade presents to UK businesses.
International Trade Week was run for the first time in 2021 and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) says that the third iteration is “set to be the biggest yet”.
This year’s programme is centred around four key themes:
- Practical advice on exporting for goods and services
- Government services to help exporters
- Securing investment from overseas
- Trade opportunities in the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and the US
‘Great initiative’
For the third year in a row, the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) is backing the programme by attending and participating in multiple events.
IOE&IT director general Marco Forgione says that the programme is a “great initiative” because it’s more important than ever to get more SMEs exporting.
“To drive economic growth, the UK needs to increase the amount of goods and services it exports, particularly among SMEs,” he said. “As such, we’re delighted that DBT is running International Trade Week again. It’s a great initiative that IOE&IT continues to support and back.”
CPTPP webinar
As part of International Trade Week, the IOE&IT is this year hosting a webinar on how UK exporters can make the most of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which the UK earlier this year secured an agreement to join.
The webinar will feature expert guidance from DBT’s CPTPP engagement lead Hope Hadfield and IOE&IT’s trade agreements expert Henriette Gjaerde, as well as case study presentations from two DBT export champions: condiment producer The Tracklement Company and sports gear manufacturer Ronhill.
Ahead of the webinar, Gjaerde said that she was excited to be part of International Trade Week and was looking forward to sharing advice about how UK firms can benefit from CPTPP.
“This webinar will be a great chance for businesses to get a sense of the opportunities that CPTPP will create, when the UK formally completes the process of joining the bloc, and to hear directly from two exporters who are already successfully trading in some of these markets.
“I’m delighted we’re running it as part of International Trade Week and hope many of our members will be able to attend.”
You can register to join the webinar by signing up to the International Trade Week programme here.
E-commerce Trade Commission
Susan Roe, an IOE&IT trade & customs specialist and secretariat lead at the recently convened E-Commerce Trade Commission, will also be speaking on a webinar on Tuesday 7 November that is being hosted by the UK India Business Council. The webinar will look at how companies can succeed in India via e-commerce.
She will also be attending the ‘Midland’s 5th Flagship Digital Trade Conference’, which is being hosted by DBT in Sutton Coldfield on Thursday 9 November. The E-Commerce Trade Commission will have a stand at this conference at which delegates can learn more about the commission’s work to support MSMEs to enter international markets via digital channels, including online marketplaces.
Other IOE&IT activities
IOE&IT customs and trade consultant Laura Williams will also be speaking at a ‘peer-to-peer’ event hosted by the Food and Drink Export Council (FDEC) in Perth, Scotland, on Wednesday 8 November, which IOE&IT’s nations and regions lead Paul Brooks will also be attending.
The event is the first such meeting to be hosted by the FDEC and is aimed at “Scottish food and drink businesses that are already exporting who are looking to expand and grow their exports and connect with likeminded peers”, according to Scotland Food and Drink.
IOE&IT representatives will also be attending a wide range of in-person events during International Trade Week, including techUK panel discussions on the Atlantic Declaration and US market access for tech SMEs on Monday 6 November, as well as an ICC event on delivering sustainable global value chains at Diageo’s head office on Tuesday 7 November.
To register to any events or webinars taking place during International Trade Week, visit: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/website/11631/itw-2023/