UK businesses have been encouraged to participate in International Trade Week – a programme of events from the Department for International Trade (DIT) and partners which starts on 31 October.
The week aims to encourage UK firms to start exporting around the world and has four main themes this year:
- Discovering how to trade internationally
- How to find new global markets through free trade agreement updates and market overview sessions
- Discovering key investment opportunities via the DIT’s green trade & investment content
- Understanding the UK’s place in trade as a force for good: with emphasis on support available for female, black, Asian, minority ethnic and LGBTQ+ owned business
‘Key moment’
The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) continues to partner with DIT on initiatives such as International Trade Week, and its director general Marco Forgione has urged IOE&IT members and the wider trader community to get involved.
He said:
“DIT continues to put on fantastic programmes and events highlighting the opportunities that are out there for UK exporters, and International Trade Week comes at a key moment this year.
“Businesses that trade internationally are proven to be more profitable, sustainable and innovative. Increasing our exports is therefore central to rebooting the wider economy.
“We encourage members and the wider community to participate in this year’s programme and to meet the IOE&IT representatives at events in London, Manchester and Birmingham.
“We're delighted to be partnering with International Trade Week and we're looking forward to launching our report on the future of the UK's border.”
IOE&IT activity
The IOE&IT will be participating in several events throughout International Trade Week, with speakers and a stand presence at Export Academy Live events in Manchester and Birmingham.
It will also be co-hosting the launch of a new paper titled Enhanced Efficiency: Building a UK Border for the 21st Century at the Clubhouse on St James Square on Tuesday 1 November at 6pm.
Forgione will be attending the launch of another report on customs easements for MSMES by the Social Market Foundation on Friday 4 November, while IOE&IT director of special projects and international development Kevin Shakespeare is participating in a UK Export Finance roundtable in London on the same day.
The IOE&IT is also hosting a free webinar on ‘How to make the most of the UK’s free trade agreements’ on Wednesday 2 November which you can sign up to here.
The full programme of International Trade Week events can be found here.
Report launch
The Enhanced Efficiency: Building a UK Border for the 21st Century, co-written by the IOE&IT and Flint Global, looks at how digitalisation and policy can enable the UK to achieve its ambition of having the most efficient border in the world by 2025.
IOE&IT director general Marco Forgione said the report will confirm the importance of trade digitalisation to the UK economy.
“This report is the latest to show how digitalising and streamlining UK border processes will have a considerably positive impact on UK trade and therefore the wider economy,” he said.
The report follows the IOE&IT’s Trade Data and Digitalisation report from March this year and the launch event will be taking place at the Clubhouse in St James’s Square London.
Member exclusive
