Dear Members and Friends,
Starting next week, the newsletter will have a new look — more of a magazine format. A brief 30 second- read, ‘editorial’ highlighting the week’s contents and then a menu of links to news on events (past and future) and a varied range of contributions from our full team and from members.
Staying, for now, with the usual format, please find a link below to events that took place this week. I’d reflect on a theme one was trying to address; barriers to doing business in emerging markets. Of course, the perennials are with us, such as cultural and language barriers. Much more telling, though, are access to reliable finance, particularly for SMEs venturing into new markets and people-capacity. Wearing my ‘ex international banker’ hat I’m optimistic on the former. Whether HMG, notably UKEF (a warm welcome to its new CEO, ex banker Tim Reid — a great choice), multi-lateral or commercial bank funding, there is appetite. Banks need business and growth like the rest of us and that means focus on places where there is ‘growth’. BEI will be spending more focus on this key financing component, whether the topical area of ‘green’ finance or the more traditional areas (although, to quote a famous banker “there is nothing new on Wall St”). It’s capacity, though, that one hears time and time again as a major constraint. Lots of business out there for members but not enough skilled, trained people to do all of it. In the ‘West’ there is the issue of the well-documented, so-called great retirement; experienced executives in their 50’s reflecting on life post-pandemic and deciding to drop the trip to the office. Across the World, though and notably in emerging markets and particularly in the all-important energy — transition sectors there is just not the required depth of technical skills to deliver home-grown solutions. The demand on established professional services firms wanting to do business growth economies to supply training will only grow and, with this, a huge opportunity for UK companies who can deliver TVET. Hence a major BEI focus on ‘Education and Skills’. It’s a key need across multiple markets and the provision of UK-originated solutions, alongside progress in promoting UK standards and certification, will be directly relevant to Trade success.
This week we also had the opportunity to host an in-person event and reception with Tim Dillon, Agent General for Victoria to the United Kingdom and Commissioner for Victoria to Europe and Israel, for a session which highlighted the current business opportunities in the state of Victoria, Australia. Tim highlighted the pipeline of opportunities available in the State ranging from infrastructure (including social infrastructure and renewable energy) to education and skills development. If you wish us to share with you presentation slides, which includes the opportunities pipeline, please contact max@britishexpertise.org.
Recordings of recent events can be found via this link. A summary of events in the next fortnight is as follows:
24th January 2023 9:30–11:30 GMT: Indonesia Education Deep Dive with DIT, FCDO & British Council
Join us for a deep dive into the education opportunities in Indonesia led by the Department for International Trade who will provide us with an insight into the key education priorities for UK plc looking to do business in Indonesia.
24th January 2023 15:00–16:30 GMT: Peru Bilateral Trade Review — Education & Skills Workshop
British Expertise International, in partnership with OCO Global, is delighted to host an online workshop focusing on business opportunities in Peru for British exporters of services in the Education and Skills Sectors
1st February 2023 10:00–11:30 GMT: Senegal Infrastructure Opportunities
Join us for a virtual deep-dive on infrastructure opportunities in Senegal. There are current opportunities for UK expertise on roads (toll roads, bridges), rail, and port development. There is a need for solar and wind renewable energy development for energy security and to increase grid stability at a national level.
1st February 2023 17:00–19:00 GMT: Kazakhstan Minister of Science and Higher Education Reception
Join British Expertise International on Wednesday 1st February from 17:00–19:00 for an in-person reception with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education to celebrate the UK-Kazakhstan cooperation in higher education.
For an overview of our planned events for the early part of the year, you can see a useful infographic here: BEI Winter/Spring Events Programme 2023 (britishexpertise.org)
Very Best Wishes
Peter O’Kane
Chairman
British Expertise International/Strategy International
Longer Term View of Events
7th February 2023 15:00-16:30 GMT: Climate TRACE – mobilising data to track GHG
Join us to learn about the work and mission of Climate TRACE. Their emissions inventory is the world’s first comprehensive accounting of GHG emissions based primarily on direct, independent observation.
Summary of events held in the last two weeks
Which feature links to meetings slides / recordings
12th January 2023 10.00-11.30 GMT: Cameroon Market Opportunity Overview
We welcomed Dr Christian Dennys-McClure, the High Commissioner and his team. They focused on insights into current opportunities in this market, including a special focus on the infrastructure sector - particularly roads, port development, energy capacity and renewables. Event slides and recording here.
17th January 2023 09:30–11:00 GMT: FCDO Malawi: Development Priorities
We welcomed Olympia Wereko-Brobby, the Development Director in Malawi for the FCDO who presented the Government’s development priorities and programming for the country. Event slides and recording here.
17th January 2023 15.00–16.30 GMT: Peru Bilateral Trade Review — Infrastructure Workshop
British Expertise International, in partnership with OCO Global, hosted an online workshop focusing on business opportunities in Peru for British exporters of services in the Infrastructure Sector.
17th January 2023 16.00–19.30 GMT: Education Roundtable with DIT and DfE
For the Education Working Group’s first 2023 in-person meeting, BEI hosted an in-person roundtable event and networking reception with the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Department for Education (DfE) to support Education members in understanding more about the International Education Strategy, its future direction and to provide members with the opportunity to share their feedback on experiences in delivering within the sub-sectors of education to date. Members were informed of the new markets of focus which include India, Indonesia, Viet Nam, and Nigeria, as well as longer term growth markets such as Pakistan, Mexico and Brazil. We also heard that the increase of education exports to £35 billion remains a key ambition. In the DfE they are currently leading on policy and strategy (predominantly in UK), market access barriers, transnational education, and are increasingly looking into mutual qualifications schemes both in the UK and internationally.
19th January 2023 16.00–19.30 GMT: Doing Business in the State of Victoria
BEI hosted an in-person event and reception with Tim Dillon, Agent General for Victoria to the United Kingdom and Commissioner for Victoria to Europe and Israel, for a session on doing business and sectoral opportunities in the state of Victoria, Australia.
Upcoming external events
26th January 2023 – Philippine Economic Briefing: This briefing will cover the latest developments on the Philippine economy and the Marcos Administration’s Socioeconomic Agenda. Hear the latest views on growth and inflation outlook from the Philippine Economic Team. Officials will also share the government’s spending priorities, fiscal and infrastructure programs, as well as recent reforms that further open the Philippine economy to 100 percent foreign ownership of public services and renewable energy.
1st February 2023 - UK-Kazakhstan 9th Intergovernmental Commission: The main objective of this event is to facilitate dialogue between UK and KZ Universities, strengthen connections, help parties understand more about each other's interests and create a base for further cooperation.
10th-15th February 2023 – Maritime Industry Trade Mission to Pakistan:Upcoming PBBC Trade Mission to Pakistan with a focus on Maritime Industry, we are looking for participants to join us, we will waive fees for BEI members, arrange visas, logistics, security and local transport. Provide full assistance in terms of business opportunities and organise meetings. Please also find the link to the upcoming Pakistan International Maritime Expo & Conference brochure.
20 & 21st February 2023 - Teacher Training Mission to Malaysia: The UK Department for International Trade (DIT) will lead a UK trade mission focusing on K-12 Teacher Training opportunities. The aim of the mission is to connect teacher training providers/specialists, government officials and education institutions leaders to learn about the latest thinking and innovations on Teacher Training Education. For more information, please contact Husna Hamimi Hashim on husna.hashim@fcdo.gov.uk
21st - 22nd February 2023 - World Water-Tech Innovation Summit, London: Join 400+ utilities, engineering firms, regulators, tech pioneers, investors and start-ups for two days packed with discussions and networking opportunities focused on energy efficiency and climate resiliency in the water industry. Save an extra 10% with code BE10: https://worldwatertechinnovation.com/agenda/
25th February – 5th March - “Sustainability & Education Immersion Week” In Panama. Providing the opportunity to visit and learn from government agencies, educational institutions and private sector to collectively collaborate in creating innovative instruments to boost student mobility, transnational education (TNE) (in the short- and medium-term) and Clean Growth (in the long-term).
UN International Procurement Seminar (UN IPS) on 7-8 March 2023 at the UN City in Copenhagen and the registration process. UNGM registration is required to participate in the UN IPS and request 1-2-1 meetings with UN Procurement officers. If your company is already registered on the UNGM, it is possible to already express an interest in participating on the link below (this expression is not a formal offer/acceptance). UN International Procurement Seminar, Copenhagen, 7-8 March 2023 (ungm.org)
Not a member?
Learn more
For more information about British Expertise International:
- Sign up to receive this Weekly Update
- View our upcoming webinar events
- Becoming a member
- Follow us on Twitter
- Join our Linkedin group
