Jun 9, 2023

BEI Weekly Update — 9th June 2023

by

Peter O’Kane

by

Dear Members and Friends,

We kicked off our annual ‘Meet the Ambassador’ series this week with sessions covering Panama, Costa Rica, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. The new format, much of it in-person events, brings the FCDO’s insights to your door (well, ours). It gives more time to each country than in the last two years. We will hear our Heads of Mission from 30 countries (& counting) brief us on the key economic, political and, of course, trade trends relevant to the membership. The list of countries and dates appears immediately under my signature.

Keeping on a global tour theme, I recommend to you the monthly podcast from ‘our’ economist, Andrew Hilton, who canters expertly through all the key issues. Interest rates, stock markets, commodities, the US, UK and EU economies. More engaging and more efficient than a plough through the Economist. The link is here.

This week saw events covering the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Forecast. You can read the team’s blog on the report here. It also saw publication of the ICAI report on the effectiveness of the UK 'aid for trade' programme. ICAI have asked us to circulate it. Happy to do so, albeit noting there is room for debate on a few points. Link is here.

Elsewhere in Strategy, our think tank, BFPG, is just wrapping up data collection for its annual survey of British citizens’ views about foreign policy. It covers their opinions on specific regions and countries and a number of very relevant themes to all our members. Many thanks to BEI member, Integrity, for supporting this important annual contribution to foreign policy discussion. Publication and associated events will commence in mid-July.

At D-Contemporary, the Summer Exhibition was launched last night. The gallery splits its focus between supporting young British contemporary artists by giving them early exposure in the heart of London’s top art district and collaborative exhibitions showing art from countries relevant to our international focus, most recently Vietnam. Watch this space for forthcoming country announcements. Meanwhile, though, DO come to 23 Grafton St and get the two-for-one benefit of great art and great ambassadors.

Enjoy the weekend.

Warm Regards

Peter O’Kane

Chairman

British Expertise International/Strategy International

Recordings of recent past events:

7th June 2023 - MTA: Costa Rica & Panama
8th June 2023 - MTA: Mongolia & Kyrgyzstan

Key events coming up include the following:

12th June 2023 10:20-11:20 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Cambodia - Join us as we welcome Dominic Williams MBE, the British Ambassador to Cambodia.
12th June 2023 14:40-15:40 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Ethiopia - Join us as we welcome Darren Welch, Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
12th June 2023 15:50-16:50 BST: Meet The Ambassadors: Mexico & Peru - Join us as we welcome Gavin Cook, His Majesty's Ambassador to Peru & Jon Benjamin, His Majesty's Ambassador to Mexico.
13th June 2023 10:20-11:20 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Pakistan - Join us as we welcome Andrew Dalgleish, the Acting High Commissioner to Pakistan.
14th June 2023 14:40-15:40 BST: Meet The Ambassadors: Malawi & Mozambique - Join us as we welcome Fiona Ritchie, British High Commissioner to the Republic of Malawi & Helen Lewis, British High Commissioner to the Republic of Mozambique.
15^th June 2023 11:40-12:40 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Morocco - Join us as we welcome Simon Martin CMG, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Morocco.
15th June 2023 13:00-14:00 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Kazakhstan - Join us as we welcome Kathy Leach, Her Majesty's British Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
15th June 2023 14:40-15:40 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Sierra Leone – Join us as we welcome Lisa Chesney MBE, His Majesty’s British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone.
16th June 2023 08:30-09:30 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Australia - Join us as we welcome Vicki Treadell, the British High Commissioner to Australia.
16th June 2023 11:40-12:40 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Ukraine - Join us as we welcome Melinda Simmons DCMG, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Ukraine.
16th June 2023 13:00-14:00 BST: Meet The Ambassador: United Arab Emirates - Join us as we welcome Ed Hobart CMG, His Majesty's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
16th June 2023 14:40-15:40 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Viet Nam - Join us as we welcome Iain Frew, the UK’s Ambassador to Viet Nam.
16th June 2023 15:50-16:50 BST: Meet The Ambassadors: Japan & South Korea - Join us as we welcome Julia Longbottom CMG, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Japan and Colin Crooks LVO, Her Majesty's Ambassador to South Korea.
19th June 2023 09:00-10:00 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Indonesia - Join us virtually as we welcome Owen Jenkins CMG, His Majesty's Ambassador to Indonesia & Timor-Leste.
20th June 2023 12:00-13:00 BST: Meet The Ambassadors: Ghana & Nigeria - Join us virtually as we welcome Harriet Thompson, British High Commissioner to the Republic of Ghana and Richard Montgomery CMG, British High Commissioner to Nigeria.
22nd June 2023 10:20-11:20 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Algeria - Join us virtually as we welcome Sharon Wardle, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Algeria.
22nd June 2023 11:40-12:40 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Namibia - Join us virtually as we welcome Charles Moore, British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia.
23rd June 2023 15:00-16:00 BST: Meet The Ambassador: Guatemala & El Salvador - Join us as we welcome Nick Whittingham, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala and David Lelliott, His Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador.
26th June 2023 10:20-11:20 BST: Meet The Ambassadors: South Africa & Botswana - Join us as we welcome Antony Phillipson & Sian Price, British High Commissioners to South Africa & Botswana.
27th June 2023 09:00-10:00 BST: Meet The Ambassadors: Philippines - Join us as we welcome Laure Beaufils, His Majesty's Ambassador to The Philippines & Palau.
4th July 2023 12:00-15:00 BST: Roundtable with Nick Dyer, Director General, Humanitarian and Development (in person)- Join us for an in-person roundtable with Nick Dyer, Director General, Humanitarian and Development. Nick will provide an overview of the UK’s International Development Strategy (IDS) and address the key priorities for the UK in delivering humanitarian aid.
6th July 2023 14:30-16:30 BST: Roundtable with Mark Eastwood, UK’s Trade Envoy to Pakistan - Join us for an in-person roundtable with Mark Eastwood, the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Pakistan who will speak to the subject of Government-to-Government discussions between the UK and Pakistan on infrastructure, renewables, and education, and will provide members with an update on the current trade dialogue between the two countries.
11th July 2023 16:00-19:30 BST: Climate Change Working Group Networking Evening - Join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversations with leaders across UK industry in the climate space. Our keynote speaker will be Dr Iris Soler, Associate Director at Turner & Townsend, who will explore links between water with climate.

Register for an upcoming event →

External Events

20th-23rd June: Join the Africa Energy Forum - The Africa Energy Forum is a conference and exhibition for the continent’s most influential clean growth stakeholders. It aims to drive policies; promote innovation and stimulate deals that will position UK business ahead as Africa takes more steps towards sustainable energy. Please use the link above to register!