BCC and Government form partnership to promote World Trade Week
02/06/09 | 16:25
Ahead of World Trade Week UK on June 8th, the British Chambers of Commerce has teamed up with the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for International Development (DFID) to help promote the benefits of global trade.
The partnership aims to support companies in recognising their international trade potential, and highlights the important role globalisation will have on the UK economy in the future.
Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), David Frost, said:
“Supporting an open trade policy is of vital importance to our economy. Looking to overseas markets can open doors to fresh revenue streams and new opportunities. Governments around the world need to resist domestic political pressures for protective measures and defend the recent progress made in freeing up global trade."
As part of World Trade Week, the BCC will work with its network of Chambers across the country to mobilise business and promote free trade through a series of ministerial events supported by DFID and BERR.
The free events will be run in a number of cities providing businesses with invaluable information on the importance of world trade in creating jobs and business growth. At each event there will also be a Q&A and a networking session to further enhance understanding.
Gareth Thomas, Minister for Trade, Development and Consumer Affairs, added:
“We are delighted to be working with the British Chambers of Commerce on this campaign. A core part of the Government’s response to the current global economic crisis has been to keep global markets open and ensure that trade – the lifeblood of the economy – continues to flow. Trade is vital to jobs and growth and we are looking forward to working with local businesses across the country to support them in making the most of trading opportunities out there.”
Ends
Media Contact:
Sam Turvey
Tel: 020 7654 5813
Email: s.turvey@britishchambers.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
About World Trade Week
For further information on UK World Trade Week please go to:
http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/worldtradeweek
www.worldtradeweekuk.com
World Trade Week UK will highlight the importance of global trade in creating jobs and growth through open and fair markets.
Trade and openness are the cornerstones of UK economic prosperity and a crucial route out of poverty worldwide. The week will help showcase the UK as a trading nation and the importance of global trade to reducing global poverty.
During World Trade Week UK there will be a range of activities and events every day, both across the UK and at UK embassies and consulates across the world.
About Trade Policy Unit
The Trade Policy Unit (TPU), created in 2007, brings together the trade and development policies of the Department for International Development and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). TPU continues the UK tradition of the past ten years of placing development at the centre of UK policy-making on trade. TPU's challenge is to build on this and to continue calling for trade deals that are beneficial to both the UK and to poorer countries, while working towards our dual objectives of global poverty reduction and UK competitiveness and market access.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the National Voice of Local Business.
The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people.