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Further Support Announced to Help British Companies Compete on the Global Stage
May.2011 United Kingdom - Business Secretary Vince Cable, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green today launched a new cross-government focus on trade and investment to help the British economy grow. The UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Strategy and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) seven-point Charter demonstrate the Government’s dedication to supporting international business, championing UK business overseas and attracting investors to the country. The UKTI Strategy and FCO Charter are available online.
British Government Takes Positive Steps To Generate Global Economic Growth
11.02.2011 United Kingdom - On 9 February 2011, the UK Government published its strategy for how trade and investment can drive global economic growth. This means rejecting protectionism and ensuring a greater openness to trade and investment. Only by taking a new approach can countries be sure that they are supporting the poorest whilst capitalising on all the opportunities offered by a growth in global trade. Included in the strategy are a range of actions to help secure a strong, sustainable and open economy that benefits business both domestically and internationally. Further background is provided here, and the full text of the strategy is available from the UK’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) website Department for Business Innovation & Skills
Not just the 'usual suspects' at UK trade delegate meet - Brunei Times
12.11.2010 AMONG the "usual suspects", present at a business networking session organised by the British Brunei Business Forum (BBBF) yesterday for a UK trade delegate at the Riviera Hotel in Kuala Belait, one organisation, which does not belong to the 'oil & gas' fraternity stood out. James Peacock, Hull College Group Industry Development Director, told The Brunei Times, "There is no reason why we shouldn't be here." He explained, "We provide the training for the staff of these people (the oil and gas and engineering companies), and of course we need them to know that we are standing right by them." Hull College, he added, has a Centre of Excellence in the training of process in oil and gas and non-oil and gas industries, "and of course we are to be providing top quality training on various levels for the private sectors". Hull College provides not only provides high level academic qualifications, but also provide training to entry level staff at the technical and vocational level, he said. "We can help support the local labour market in the particular skill set that various industries require, and that is why I am here at this session," added Peacock. The director said that Hull currently has 15 Bruneian students doing Bachelor in their college, and they are looking to expand their international operation. Apart from the "usual suspects", a term used by the British High Commissioner Rob Fenn to describe companies in the oil and gas sector, other companies present at the networking session include ERM (Environmental Resources Management) South East Asia, Proserv Offshore, Scottish Development International, BMT Asia Pacific, Bristow Helicopters and Rolls Royce. Business leaders were also briefed on Brunei's diversification plans. (The Brunei Times)\
BBBF Goes Online
30.04.2010 Bandar Seri Begawan - His Excellency Rob Fenn, the British High Commissioner officially launched the new Britain Brunei Business Forum (BBBF) Website at the iCentre on Friday 30^th April. The launch ceremony was attended by BBBF Committee Members, iCentre staff and Cyberunai, the former iCentre incubate company that developed the website for BBBF. “When we commenced the project to launch a new website, the BBBF committee felt that it was important to support young ICT companies in Brunei” said Andy Scholar, BBBF Treasurer. “Cyberunai were one of five companies within the iCentre that pitched to the BBBF and we felt that they [Cyberunai] provided the most effective solution for our needs.” BBBF, which was formed in October 2002, is a non-profit organisation with the following aims and objectives: · To enable British & Bruneian business people and staff of the British High Commission to meet together in order to further trade and investment cooperation between Britain and Brunei, · To assist Bruneian business people in finding British partners to enhance both parties’ business performance, and · To circulate information about opportunities for business with Britain through the Bruneian business community. The new website will further the BBBF’s ability to meet these aims and objectives, providing a new media to promote its events, periodic lectures and seminars. The site will also contain up to date details of current members as well as providing a facility for new members to apply online.
BBBF Meeting Sparks New Ideas for British & Bruneian SMEs “The Economic Situation of the UK: Options for Recovery” and keynote luncheon speak by Mr. Keith Smith of Regional Director ASEAN and Australasia, United Kingdom Trade & Investment Defence Security Organisation.
16.04.2010 Bandar Seri Begawan - The Britain Brunei Business Forum (BBBF) held a lunchtime meeting on Friday 16 April 2010, with a guest speaker from London - Keith Smith, Asia Pacific Director, UK Trade and Investment, Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO). Representatives of many Bruneian and locally-established British companies were present. British High Commissioner Rob Fenn introduced Mr Smith, and encouraged him and BBBF members to update each other on UK/Brunei business opportunities, from their different perspectives. The meeting gave members a chance to find out more about UKTI, its current priorities and projects, particularly in the defence & security sector. The discussion underlined how UKTI supports the export capability of British businesses, enhances the attractiveness of the UK economy to foreign direct investment, and facilitates networking between international firms, to enable more productive partnerships on a global basis. Keith Smith argued that businesses should do more than seek to sell goods. A better business strategy, including for SMEs (small and medium enterprises), might be to offer longer term services, such as maintenance and after sales support. These built a platform for customer loyalty, as well as a steady growth curve and repeat business for the future. Noting the relative scarcity of data on the Brunei market (what firms, with what capacities and interests were operating here?), Mr Smith posed a question. Would it not benefit firms in both countries (particularly SMEs, whose ability to research the market was limited) if there were a database of capabilities - to encourage “cross-pollination” between British and Bruneian companies? The BBBF tasked itself to consider this matter further – in cooperation with the government agencies already active in this area – to help bridge information gaps. For example, Brunei’s high-tech oil and gas sector already supported the suppliers of a wide variety of technical services. Perhaps what was needed was to “draw” such companies into the wider economy, which would open up business opportunities for British firms beyond oil and gas. Mr Smith also touched on the importance of the defence & security sector in Brunei, and its potential for development, in partnership with the UK. This is a key specialist sector for UKTI. Mr Smith singled out the security sector as an area which less mature than “classical defence”, and which had the potential for rapid growth in the short to medium term, in Brunei, the region and global markets.