Also in the news...
Foreign travel advice Indonesia
FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Indonesia.
Foreign travel advice Romania
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 24 April 2024 Updated: 23 April 2024 Latest update: Information related to drug offences and Romanian music festivals (under 'Laws and cultural differences' subheading on the 'Safety and security' page).
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.
Derbyshire eco-furniture business heads to Beijing
Full Grown will be exhibiting some of its grown furniture at the Beijing Expo 2019
Derbyshire-based sustainable furniture company, Full Grown, will be exhibiting some of its furniture at the Beijing Expo 2019 as a permanent pop-up.
The UK Garden has received almost 450,000 visitors, including business and government leaders from across China. This presents a great opportunity for Full Grown’s founders Gavin and Alice Munro to seek out buyers in this blossoming luxury furniture market.
Full Grown shape and graft bespoke, sustainable furniture from trees to sell to individuals, galleries and museums. Officially founded in 2012, the company soon realised its product range, which now encompasses chairs, lamps, tables and sculptures, had strong appeal outside of the UK.
The business started working with the Department for International Trade in 2016 and now exports to 10 countries including France, Germany and Norway, as well as locations further afield such as Hong Kong and the US.
Gavin Munro, founder at Full Grown said:
We were introduced to the Beijing Expo 2019 through a DIT reception with Liam Fox at Lancaster House in December. We have since been discussing exhibiting our products at the expo for some time and DIT are kindly supporting our appearance at the expo.
The expo will provide us valuable opportunities to show our products to a new audience in China – and allow us to publicise our company and products at the UK Garden and Pavilion that shares the same cause that we do: innovating for a greener future.
Richard Burn, DIT’s HM Trade Commissioner for China said:
China is the perfect market for Full Grown to explore. Chinese consumers currently purchase a third of global luxury products and have an increased awareness of eco-friendly goods.
The UK’s Garden and Pavilion will provide the perfect setting to showcase these organically grown lamps and chairs. Not only do they represent the creativity and innovation found in UK companies that make us a world leader in low carbon development, but they also resonate with our core theme of ‘Innovating for a Greener Future’. I hope visitors to the Expo can come and enjoy these innovative products amidst the tranquil surroundings of the UK Garden.