Dear Members and Friends,
A New Year and a new format. In this weekly update, in addition to our specific events updates, we will aim to give you an overview of the broader activities we are engaged in, together with summary of relevant information across the family of companies housed at 23 Grafton Street.
In our events programme, Education and Skills was a key focus this week with insightful sessions on the opportunities and environment in Indonesia and Peru.
In ‘Out & About’, we highlight the DIT’s reception with a highly engaging Kemi Badenoch and her team, plus impressive receptions courtesy of the Indian High Commission and the Mongolian Embassy. We also highlight a visit this week to the hugely impressive water specialist and BEI member, HR Wallingford. And in ‘23 Grafton St’ we link you to other goings on in and around the building and the Strategy Group that we think are of broad interest – this week focused on our gallery, D-Contemporary.
Events Update
Recent event recordings include two fascinating events held this week; Indonesia Education Deep Dive with DIT, FCDO & British Council and the Peru Bilateral Trade Review – Education & Skills Workshop, delivered in partnership with OCO Global.
During the Indonesia Education Deep Dive we heard from the FCDO and DIT on their priorities for education technology in the country, partnership schemes, and the drive for (and challenges around) higher education. We were also provided with an overview of vocational education and skills development in the country as well as the priorities on the Indonesia TVET Cooperation (2020-2024) as well as the opportunities for UK businesses to collaborate with Indonesia’s vocational institutions.
Link to recent event recordings →
Key events coming up include the following:
- 1st February 2023 10:00–11:30 GMT: Senegal Infrastructure Opportunities
Join us for a virtual deep dive on infrastructure opportunities in Senegal covering roads (toll roads, bridges), rail, and port development, solar and wind renewable energy development - 1st February 2023 17:00 – 19:00 GMT: Kazakhstan Minister of Science and Higher Education Reception
In-person reception with Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education to celebrate the UK-Kazakhstan cooperation in higher education. - 17th 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 - 7th March 2023 10:00-11:30 GMT: Market Opportunity Overview: Nepal
Join us for a Market Opportunity Overview on Nepal in partnership with the British Embassy. Nepal has demonstrated its commitment to increasing its renewable energy and to making its infrastructure more resilient and sustainable. There are significant opportunities in education and skills
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
Register for an upcoming event →
Out and About
During a DIT reception with Kemi Badenoch, her senior management team and UKEF’s new CEO, Tim Reid, the Secretary of State spelled out her department’s top priorities.
View full article on website →
BEI joined the Indian High Commission’s celebration of India Day. The recently arrived India High Commissioner HE Vikram Doraiswami spoke eloquently about India’s progress and the importance of the bilateral relationship.
View full article on website →
BEI participated in an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the United Kingdom.
View full article on website →
Peter O’Kane visited BEI member HR Wallingford – home to Europe’s largest third generation tsunami simulator, the world’s largest marine test facilities.
View full article on website →
COP15 took place in December – click here to read our thoughts on the agreement by 195 countries to the Global Biodiversity Framework and its implications for institutions globally, summarised by BEI’s Climate Change Working Group chair, Alexandra Barnes.
View full article on website →
23 Grafton Street
Spotlight on D-Contemporary
You might wonder why we house an art gallery and what might be its relevance to British Expertise members? The answer is twofold.
Firstly, close to BEI member’s interests is that D Contemporary has cut for itself a niche in showcasing emerging art from smaller (in art terms) markets, often markets with direct business relevance to members’ interests. Panama, Estonia, Portugal and Kazakhstan are just a few of those who have held exhibitions at D Contemporary. The most recent focused on Ukraine with photography portraying the impact of the war on its people and infrastructure. The exhibition was kindly sponsored by BEI Member Mabey Bridge. The next international exhibition will feature one of the leading contemporary artists from Viet Nam – who this year celebrate the 50th anniversary of modern diplomatic relations with the UK. The opening evening, with food and drink kindly sponsored by the brilliant Ambassador Long and his embassy team, is on Wednesday 29th March.
The other half of the gallery’s focus is enabling young emerging UK artists to exhibit. We see the UK’s contemporary art scene as a standard bearer around equity and inclusion. Where art leads often society follows. Housing D Contemporary allows us to explore cutting edge themes and we do this principally by giving young, emerging artists an opportunity they’d be hard pushed to gain early on in their careers to exhibit in a West End gallery. Last night we opened a two week showcase of some recent graduates from the Slade School of Fine Art and Royal College of Art.
View D Contemporary on Instagram →
Very Best Wishes
Peter O’Kane
Chairman
British Expertise International/Strategy International
External Events
- 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)
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