UK trade development has a new face – British Trade International.
UK trade development has a new face – British Trade International.
BTI brings together into a single management structure services that used to operate independently such as the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s 200 diplomatic posts around the world.
Any money generated by these departments through issuing visas or conducting trade exhibitions used to go straight back to the British Treasury, and was not necessarily used to fund further bilateral trade activities.
BTI consul general Hugh Dunnachie said the new structure allowed money to be recycled for these purposes.
“BTI was devised as a hybrid department because there was a need for integration,” Mr Dunnachie said.
“We had to be readily identifiable so people know where to turn and who to call.
“Trade Partners UK has been established as a branding for BTI’s services – we had no equivalent branding name like Austrade.
“It’s all about raising awareness,” he said. Britain is one of the world’s top trading nations. It is the world’s fourth largest exporter and second largest overseas investor.
In monetary terms, only the US spends more in outward investment.
BTI trade promotion manager Bruce Dann said there was a multitude of trade opportunities between Australia and the UK.
For example, almost half of Australia’s wine exports go to the UK and the British furniture industry views Australia as a major export opportunity.
“There are major opportunities in technology transfer with Aberdeen, Scotland leading the way in the UK,” Mr Dann said.
“While Melbourne is often viewed as the information technology capital of Australia, WA contributions in software development have increased tremendously.
“Our primary focus in WA remains the oil and gas sector, however,” he said.
Mr Dann said WA could learn much from offshore operations in the UK’s North Sea.
“There are many similarities between mining certain materials in the UK and mining other materials in WA – the problems are the same – dealing with water, waste and moving material,” Mr Dann said.
“WA can benefit by learning from the mistakes made in UK markets and making use of solutions devised there.
“Also, the North Sea is getting more difficult to work in.
“We are encouraging UK companies to spread their base and set up shop in WA.
“We tell them to not be satisfied with the nice little earners on their doorsteps and not keep all their eggs in one
basket.
“It’s all about broadening horizons, the sharing and selling of expertise between countries, and being part of a global marketplace,” he said.
Mr Dann said five years ago, only one or two UK trade exhibitions would come to Perth each year on average.
Now, there are between three and five of these each year in Perth.
Mr Dann said much of this was attributable to the new vitality injected by the recently appointed consul general Mr Dunnachie.
“Hugh has gained a lot of expertise through years spent in Dubai,” Mr Dann said.
Mr Dunnachie said the consul general position was a four year tenure as a deliberate strategy to keep a fresh vision for BTI.
“After living at an international post for five years, you become more a national of that country than you do of your own,” Mr Dunnachie said.
“A four year tenure assists the importing of best practice from elsewhere.”
BTI brings together into a single management structure services that used to operate independently such as the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s 200 diplomatic posts around the world.
Any money generated by these departments through issuing visas or conducting trade exhibitions used to go straight back to the British Treasury, and was not necessarily used to fund further bilateral trade activities.
BTI consul general Hugh Dunnachie said the new structure allowed money to be recycled for these purposes.
“BTI was devised as a hybrid department because there was a need for integration,” Mr Dunnachie said.
“We had to be readily identifiable so people know where to turn and who to call.
“Trade Partners UK has been established as a branding for BTI’s services – we had no equivalent branding name like Austrade.
“It’s all about raising awareness,” he said. Britain is one of the world’s top trading nations. It is the world’s fourth largest exporter and second largest overseas investor.
In monetary terms, only the US spends more in outward investment.
BTI trade promotion manager Bruce Dann said there was a multitude of trade opportunities between Australia and the UK.
For example, almost half of Australia’s wine exports go to the UK and the British furniture industry views Australia as a major export opportunity.
“There are major opportunities in technology transfer with Aberdeen, Scotland leading the way in the UK,” Mr Dann said.
“While Melbourne is often viewed as the information technology capital of Australia, WA contributions in software development have increased tremendously.
“Our primary focus in WA remains the oil and gas sector, however,” he said.
Mr Dann said WA could learn much from offshore operations in the UK’s North Sea.
“There are many similarities between mining certain materials in the UK and mining other materials in WA – the problems are the same – dealing with water, waste and moving material,” Mr Dann said.
“WA can benefit by learning from the mistakes made in UK markets and making use of solutions devised there.
“Also, the North Sea is getting more difficult to work in.
“We are encouraging UK companies to spread their base and set up shop in WA.
“We tell them to not be satisfied with the nice little earners on their doorsteps and not keep all their eggs in one
basket.
“It’s all about broadening horizons, the sharing and selling of expertise between countries, and being part of a global marketplace,” he said.
Mr Dann said five years ago, only one or two UK trade exhibitions would come to Perth each year on average.
Now, there are between three and five of these each year in Perth.
Mr Dann said much of this was attributable to the new vitality injected by the recently appointed consul general Mr Dunnachie.
“Hugh has gained a lot of expertise through years spent in Dubai,” Mr Dann said.
Mr Dunnachie said the consul general position was a four year tenure as a deliberate strategy to keep a fresh vision for BTI.
“After living at an international post for five years, you become more a national of that country than you do of your own,” Mr Dunnachie said.
“A four year tenure assists the importing of best practice from elsewhere.”
