UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) was a UK Government department working with

business Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or Trade, buying and selling Product (business), products (such as goods and Service (economics), services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for ...

es based in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

to assist their success in international markets, and with overseas investors looking to the UK as an investment destination. It was replaced in July 2016 by the

Department for International Trade The Department for International Trade (DIT) was a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, department of the Government of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom Government, from July 2016 to February 2023. It was responsible for stri ...

History

UKTI was formed in May 1999 as British Trade International, comprising two parts: Trade Partners UK (for

export promotion Trade promotion (sometimes referred to as export promotion) is an umbrella term for economic policies, development interventions and private initiatives aimed at improving the trade performance of an economic area. Such an economic area can includ ...

) and Invest UK (for inward investment - FDI). In October 2003, the former department name and two inner departments merged and became UK Trade & Investment to simplify the outward recognition of the organisation, and possibly to reduce confusion with the two departments.

Aims

To support its aim to "enhance the competitiveness of companies in Britain through overseas trade and investments; and attract a continuing high level of quality foreign direct investment".

Structure

UK Trade & Investment is an international organisation with headquarters in London and Glasgow in Scotland. Across its network UK Trade & Investment employs around 2,400 staff and advisers, including overseas in British Embassies, High Commissions,

Consulate A consulate is the office of a consul. A type of mission, it is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country (host state), usually an embassy (or, only between two Commonwealth countries, a ...

s and trade offices, and regional offices in the nine English

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

s The delivery of many UKTI regional services within the United Kingdom is contracted out to other organisations. In Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, UKTI regional services are now delivered by Serco, In China, the China Britain Business Council, another private body, is the provider. Business and university leaders work with UKTI as "business ambassadors". They promote the UK internationally and highlight trade and investment opportunities. They focus on helping

small and medium-sized enterprises Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are businesses whose personnel and revenue numbers fall below certain limits. The abbreviation "SME" is used by many national agencies and international organiza ...

(SMEs). UK Trade & Investment brings together the work of the

Foreign & Commonwealth Office The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. The office was created on 2 ...

and the

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom Government, from July 2016 to Februar ...

. The UK

Special Representative for International Trade and Investment Special or specials may refer to: Policing * Specials, Ulster Special Constabulary, the Northern Ireland police force * Specials, Special Constable, an auxiliary, volunteer, or temporary; police worker or police officer * Special police forces ...

works as part of UKTI to promote British business and produce. UK Trade & Investment has public-private partnership agreements with the Federation of International Trade Associations under which they contribute market research and other reports on GlobalTrade.net. UK Trade & Investment has an arms-trade branch called '' UKTI DSO'' (UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation) headed by Sir Richard Paniguian.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Uk Trade and Investment Economic history of the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1999 Investment promotion agencies Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Foreign trade of the United Kingdom Business organisations based in the United Kingdom 1999 establishments in the United Kingdom Investment in the United Kingdom Trade in the United Kingdom 2003 establishments in the United Kingdom Defunct departments of the Government of the United Kingdom

History

Aims

Structure

See also

References

External links