Also in the news...
Foreign travel advice The Gambia
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 23 April 2024 Updated: 22 April 2024 Latest update: Ferry services between Banjul and Barra have been suspended until further notice; The Islamic Summit of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) will be held in Banjul on 4-5 May; road closures and delays at Banjul International Airport ('Safety and security' page).
Foreign travel advice China
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 23 April 2024 Updated: 22 April 2024 Latest update: Updated information on flooding (‘Safety and security’ page).
Guidance Living in South Korea
Information for British citizens moving to or living in South Korea, including guidance on residency, healthcare, driving and more.
Guidance Living in Nigeria
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Nigeria, including guidance on residency, healthcare and passports.
Paul Beare Wins IR Global Member Of The Year
Paul Beare has been named Member of the Year at this year’s IR Global Conference in Amsterdam.
International Trade Secretary in India to strengthen trade relations
The UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox is visiting India from 6-10 November.
The Secretary of State for International Trade is visiting India to take forward the India-UK collaboration across trade, business, skills and entrepreneurship. He is participating at the India-UK TECH Summit (7-9 November), alongside the British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is leading a business delegation of 40 British companies on her first overseas visit to India. There are also five other organised business delegations in the smart cities, agri-tech, advanced engineering, healthcare and life sciences sectors, which together take the total number to around 100 of the best and most advanced British companies.
UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Dr. Liam Fox said:
I am delighted to be back in India for the second time within three months. My visit shows the huge value I place upon the UK’s close relationship with India. Our mutual investments build a trusting commercial relationship that benefits millions of our citizens.
As Britain turns to face the world, our cherished relationship with India will become more important than ever before.
Dr. Fox co-chaired the 11th edition of the UK- India Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), along with Nirmala Sitharaman, India Minister for Commerce and Industry in New Delhi, 7 November. The ministers affirmed the on-going commitment to strengthen and deepen the bilateral trade, investment and economic engagement between the two nations.The ministers and senior industry leaders also participated in the plenary session wherein the co-chairs of the existing two joint working groups (namely smart cities and technology advance manufacturing & engineering) presented an update on the progress made under respective joint working groups (JWG) since the last JETCO.
Dr. Fox also participated in the CEO Forum- a business-to-business forum aimed at enhancing the UK-India commercial relationship. He made the opening address at the medi-cities roundtable at TECH Summit. He also joined the British Prime Minister at an Indian Investors Roundtable.
On Tuesday 8 November, he spoke alongside Indian Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley at the inaugural session of on the second day of TECH Summit. He will deliver opening remarks at the session on ‘The connected city: tech solutions for India’s smart cities, to demonstrate the UK’s leadership in smart cities’. He will close a ‘Hackathon’ at the TECH Summit, which will be held to promote technology as a solution to issues of financial inclusion in India. He will also launch 'FinScope Consumer India (PSIG) 2015' , a report showing growing financial inclusion survey in four Indian states.
Dr. Fox will also visit Pune, where he will inaugurate ‘Future manufacturing and innovation workshop’ with the objective to promote UK co-operation opportunities in the advanced engineering sector. He will also meet with industry, business and important stakeholders based out of Pune. On Thursday 10 November, he will participate in a session titled ‘India and Europe after Brexit’, to understand the implications of UK’s exit from the EU on India.
India is the third largest investor in the UK and the UK invests more in India than any other G20 economy.