Dear Members and Friends,
I was fortunate to be able to spend last weekend listening to former political leaders from six continents make sense of the volatile world we are living in. I came away with three “big picture” conclusions which can be summed up as we need to work with complexity, not wish it away.
Much of the discussion inevitably centred on Donald Trump: much of it fearful, quite a lot of it disparaging. He landed squarely in the middle of every regional discussion, from Central America to the Middle East and Europe. There’s a logic to that because the US, whatever it’s doing, still counts, even if not as much as it used to. But we shouldn’t let personal judgements cloud our vision as to how to work with the US on real-world challenges. The Abraham Accords, for example, suggest that positive outcomes are possible - we should be looking for opportunities. More importantly, we shouldn’t let a focus on the US act as a distraction that takes away agency from others, whether in Europe, Africa or elsewhere. Whoever’s in the White House, we can still work to improve lives at home and around the world.
Secondly, we need to acknowledge that a good part of the challenge of governance today is the consequence of an opening up of the world in which (rightly) more voices count, domestically and internationally than ever before, and in which deference is no longer the norm. Fragmentation is the often unwelcome flip side of diversity. The international rules-based order which we in the West hold dear is challenged precisely because many believe they are “rule takers” rather than “rule makers”. As historic rule makers, we can find that hard to grasp. At the domestic level too, frustration at those who are persuaded by populism is no substitute for understanding diverse views and engaging respectfully with those who think differently.
Finally, part of today’s less cohesive (or less controlled) world is that traditional statecraft needs to work harder to understand the rising strength of non-state actors, from corporations and global movements, to terrorists and criminal cartels. Those of us (like myself) who have spent most of our working lives in large structured organisations may need to think more creatively about those who don’t.
I’ve enjoyed the opportunity of (relative) quiet in the building this week to meet a number of members and to look forward to some ideas for early next year.
Meanwhile, Luisa has been in Saudi Arabia pursuing new opportunities in education. She will be back for two highly relevant education-related events next week.
On Tuesday 26 November, we look forward to an in-person session on Leveraging the Further Education and Skills Agenda in the South East Asia Region. The panel will explore the importance of TVET and higher education in enhancing innovation and economic impact in South East Asia, along with the role of international education. Speakers will include: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Damanhuri, Minister (Education), Malaysian High Commission, London; Cecilia Pereira-Yates, Director – External Relations, Acumen (SannamS4); Dao Thi Hong, First Secretary - Education Section, Embassy of Viet Nam, London; and Ed Dixon, Senior Director Business Development, TMF Group.
On Wednesday 27, the Education Working Group will have a virtual discussion on AI in Digital Assessment, with a panel made up of BEI members: Alistair van Moere, President, MetaMetrics; Eve Alcock, Director of Public Affairs, QAA; and Harpreet Banger, Strategic Partnerships Manager – EMEA, Rosetta Stone.
Also next week, on Tuesday 26 November there will be a virtual session on Opportunities in Disaster Risk Resilience in India. This event is to help members understand the opportunities in advance of a DBT Trade Mission next year. Speakers include: Ekta Gupta, Senior Clean Growth Advisor, DBT India; Rory O’Kane, Head of Insurance, DBT London; Katherine Tyson, Head of Adaptation and Resilience, DBT London; Binu Mathew, COO, Tarutium Global Consulting; and Mr. Shankar Garigiparthy, CEO & Country Manager, Lloyd’s India. This is the first of a new series of webinars we are planning in collaboration with DBT India; the next, on education, will be on 3 December.
Our final virtual session for next week is on Thursday 28 November on Working with DFAT. We have an experienced panel of existing DFAT suppliers and former Australian Aid experts who will share their insights on how to work effectively with DFAT, how to prepare for funding and the challenges suppliers may encounter along the way. We will hear from: Amy Gildea, Managing Director Indo- Pacific, Tetra Tech International Development; Warren Turner, Director Asia Pacific, Adam Smith International; and Trystan Peckover, Economic Development Lead, Deloitte.
Looking ahead, we have just confirmed two new virtual events on 11 December that I’m sure many members will want to participate in. DBT Africa and UKEF colleagues will speak about plans for the Africa EPC Contractors Roadshow taking place in London, Cardiff, and Manchester in February.
On the same day, EBRD will outline the structure of EBRD’s new Ukraine Project Preparation Facility. They will explain how EBRD oversees project preparation and discuss engaging consultants.
I hope that we are close to having “something for everyone” in this full programme and look forward to seeing many of you, in person or virtually. In the meantime, warm wishes for a (warmer?) weekend.
David Landsman
Executive Chairman
British Expertise International
Recordings of recent past events:
- 23rd October 2024: Argentina - Market Opportunity Overview
- 5th November 2024: Caribbean Development Bank: Education and Social Inclusion
- 6th November 2024: FCDO Development Director - Nigeria
- 12th November 2024: Tanzania – Market Opportunity Overview
- 14th November 2024: Morocco – Market Opportunity Overview
- 14th November 2024: COP16 Outcomes
Key events coming up include the following:
- 26th November 2024 09:00 – 10:30 GMT: India – Opportunities in Disaster Risk Resilience - Weather related disasters such as extreme heat, droughts and massive flooding are increasing in frequency and intensity in India. Ahead of a DBT trade mission, explore key opportunities in various aspects of Disaster Risk Resilience in the Indian market.
- 26th November 2024 14:00 – 16:00 GMT: Leveraging the Further Education and Skills Agenda in the South East Asia Region - This event will bring together a panel of experts on Education in South East Asia, to discuss leveraging the further education and skills agenda in the region. The panel will explore the importance of TVET and Higher Education in enhancing innovation and economic impact in South East Asia, as well as the role of international education and the wider benefits to local and global communities.
- 27th November 2024 15:00 – 16:15 GMT: AI in Digital Assessment - Join us online for our November Education Working Group which will focus on AI in Digital Assessment, with a panel of members from MetaMetrics, QAA and Rosetta Stone.
- 28th November 2024 09:00 – 10:15 GMT: Working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia - This online event on Working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia will feature a panel of BEI members sharing their experiences of working with DFAT. The panel of existing suppliers to DFAT and former colleagues who worked as part of Australian Aid will share tips and tricks on how to win contracts, how to prepare for funding from DFAT, and the challenges organisations may encounter suppliers.
- 3rd December 2024 09:30 – 10:30 GMT: India Education Deep Dive with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) - Join us for a webinar deep dive into education opportunities in India led by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The DBT Education team in India 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 Indian market.
- 5th December 2024 10:00 – 11:30 GMT: COP29 Outcomes - As COP29 approaches in Baku, Azerbaijan, policy makers, investors and the business community are all looking forward to the negotiations’ outcomes. To help BEI members unpack COP29’s outcomes, our speakers will discuss their experiences at COP29, their main takeaways, and their hopes for the future.
- 11th December 2024 10:00 – 11:15 GMT: Opportunities to Partner With Leading EPC Contractors Working in Africa - Ahead of the February 2025 Africa EPC Contractors Roadshow, UK suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers are invited to learn about DBT’s plans for the Roadshow and explore how UK organisations can work with EPC contractors delivering transformative projects across the continent.
- 11th December 2024 14:00 – 15:00 GMT: The EBRD Ukraine Project Preparation Facility - This session will outline the structure of EBRD’s new Ukraine Project Preparation Facility, explain how EBRD oversees project preparation, and detail their strategy for engaging with the public sector. In addition, EBRD will discuss how they collaborate with private sector consultants in project preparation.
- 16th January 2025 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.
- 28th January 2025 16:00 – 19:00 GMT: Climate Change Networking Evening - Join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation, potential new partnerships and the chance to meet with members of our Climate Change Working Group. Our keynote speaker this time is Kate Hargreaves, DAI’s new Director for Climate and Environment. Kate’s work reflects a holistic approach to tackling the climate crisis, combining technological innovation, financial strategy, community involvement, and social equity.
- 27th February 2025 16:00 – 19:00 GMT: Climate Change Networking Evening - Join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation, potential new partnerships and the chance to meet with members of our Climate Change Working Group. Our keynote speaker this time is Andy Blackhall, Managing Director of WRc. Andy will reflect on his career and his hopes for the future.
External Events:
- 25th November 2024 10:45 – 13:00 GST: Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy Mission – Meet the Buyer Event - The UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade, are bringing a trade delegation of approximately 60 UK companies to the UAE from 24-29 November 2024 to participate in a Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy Mission, which will coincide with the Big 5 Global in Dubai and the RAK Energy Summit in Ras Al Khaimah. As part of an in-market activity, there is a Meet the Buyer event to enable the delegation to engage with local UAE companies and present their products and services, many of which will be completely new to the market. For more information, please email Bashira Meah via bashira.meah@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
- 4th December 2024 09:00 – 13:00 GMT: The Caspian Policy Centre's Energy Security/Post-COP29 Conference is on 4 December at Arundel House, 6 Temple Place, London WC2R2PG. Regional Ambassadors and energy and climate experts will discuss UK, EU and Caspian energy security and COP outcomes. For details contact: tali@caspianpolicy.org or register at www.caspianpolicy.org
- 11th December 2024: Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Uganda - London Investment Mission. Investors, accelerators and ecosystem players are invited to attend a special event in London. This event is designed to bridge the gap between innovative climate mitigation and adaptation projects and the investment needed to bring them to life, pairing project pitches with sessions on scaling investment in East Africa. You will have the opportunity to engage with six Ugandan projects offering innovative solutions to critical challenges around climate mitigation and adaptation across different sectors: energy, e-mobility, agriculture, and affordable waste management. You can register here.
- 11th December 2024 09:00 – 17:00 GMT: IFC-UKEF Investment Promotion Conference - Join IFC and UK Export Finance for a full-day in-person event aimed at fostering economic development and investment opportunities in the Western Balkans. To support UK businesses with ambitions to grow their footprint in the region, the event will feature expert presentations and a series of panel sessions to explore financing solutions across some of the major sectors in the region discussing relevant case studies of landmark transactions, including within renewable energy, private equity, and capital markets. There will also be opportunities for bilateral meetings and networking. For more information, please contact Johanna Hoegstedt at jhoegstedt@ifc.org
- May 7th & 8th 2025: Global Leakage Summit - The premier event for the international leakage community to listen, learn, and build relationships, tackling the toughest challenges together. Join presenters and panelists from leading UK and international water companies, and explore the latest technologies, data innovations, and software solutions from our exhibitors. In the face of climate change and record-high global investment in leakage management, this two-day conference promises a world-class knowledge-sharing program and invaluable networking opportunities.
- 3-5 September 2025, KazBuild 2025, Kazakhstan: Stand booking is now open for international exhibitors at KazBuild exhibition in Kazakhstan - the largest international building and interiors exhibition in Kazakhstan, annually welcoming over 7,000 specialist trade visitors to the show. KazBuild will be held 3-5 September 2025 in Almaty, the biggest city of Kazakhstan. Held since 1994, the exhibition showcases the latest products, services, technologies, and projects available on the market, and provides a key platform for governmental and building industry professionals to exchange experiences, establish cooperation and share the latest industry developments. Please contact Mrs. Tatyana Borodikhina by email: tatyana.borodikhina@exhibitions-conferences.com to learn more about how KazBuild can help to establish your business in Kazakhstan.
Member News:
- The latest instalment of Turner and Townsend's series ‘Transforming performance of major programmes’, their Director of Programme Advisory Richard Wood, spoke with three industry leaders on the main enablers of commercial performance in major programmes.
- BEI Member Accenture Development Partnerships, in collaboration with CARE International UK, has this week published a report, “AI and the Global South: Making AI more ethical and effective through inclusive participation | CARE International UK”, which amplifies voices from Global South civil society on AI’s impact and future. There are opportunities ahead to make sure Global South communities are participants in the design, deployment, use and governance of AI.
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