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Northern Ireland firm expands into new markets after new partnership between UKEF and Ulster Bank
UKEF’s support helping Maxflow gain access to capital through its General Export Facility (GEF) will see the business expand into new export markets.
New global growth team
A new ‘global growth team’ of UK Trade Envoys has today been appointed by the Trade Secretary to drive UK exports and investment.
New 'global growth team' appointed by Trade Secretary
A new ‘global growth team’ of UK Trade Envoys has today been appointed by the Trade Secretary to drive UK exports and investment.
UK Trade Minister visited South Africa and Botswana to strengthen trade ties
This was the first visit to Africa by UK Minister for Trade Policy Douglas Alexander, which forms part of the UK Government’s wider resetting of partnerships with Africa, which the Foreign Secretary set out in November during his visits to Nigeria and South Africa.
Former Amazon boss named interim chair of CMA
Doug Gurr will lead the CMA on its mission to support growth for the UK
European Union membership – who’s next?
At the end of last year, the European Union issued an update on the current status of countries presently on the fringes of the EU but that have indicated an interest in joining the trading bloc in the future. Foreign affairs MEPs called on the European Council to grant Albania EU Candidate Status as soon as possible.
They also endorsed the Council’s decision this summer to launch accession talks with Serbia, and recognised steps being made towards democracy in Kosovo. The recent signing of a Re-admission Agreement between Turkey and the EU could also lead to talks on EU membership for Turkey getting back on track.
MEPs reported on the decision of Iceland’s government to put the accession process on hold, awaiting a decision on whether to hold a referendum on EU membership there. Also, a planned Association Agreement with Ukraine remains unsigned due to political problems there.
It is worth remembering that it is likely to be many years before any of these countries join the EU, should it happen at all. In the meantime, however, most of them have special trading agreements with the EU countries, so there are still opportunities to import-export there.