All-party parliamentary group for Trade & Investment showcases International Festival for Business
By UK India Business Council (UKIBC)
Business leaders, parliamentarians and international delegates gather to hear ambitions of this year’s festival
APPGTI reception at the House of Lords
A special International Festival for Business 2016 (IFB2016)-inspired meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trade & Investment (APPGTI) took place in Westminster on 13 April, raising awareness of the role this year’s Festival will play in promoting British industry overseas.
The reception provided an overview of how the three-week series of events will help increase UK exports, drive economic growth and attract inward investment. The APPGTI is co-chaired by Robert Jenrick MP and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP.
IFB2016 champions addressed a varied audience of more than 100 influential and international business leaders and parliamentarians, including embassy representations from more than 30 nations.
Paul Lindley, IFB2016 Ambassador and Founder and Chairman of the UK’s largest baby food brand Ella’s Kitchen, delivered an inspiring keynote address, providing an entrepreneur’s perspective of the benefits IFB2016 will bring to UK businesses seeking to expand globally.
This summer’s festival follows the success of the inaugural International Festival for Business in 2014, which produced more than £200 million of new investment deals and export sales totalling more than £80 million as a direct result of introductions and connections facilitated by the event.
As a global showcase for great British industries and an international hub for developing trade and export deals, IFB2016 is the world’s biggest business festival and a key date in both the UK and international business calendars. It will focus on three key sector groups that are transforming the business landscape of Britain and beyond: manufacturing; creative & digital; and energy & environment.
The APPGTI was formed to research and inform debate over how best to support British exporters, particularly SMEs, and encourage foreign direct investment into the UK. It promotes trade and enables links between parliamentarians, industry and government in the UK and abroad and work closely with trade representatives and bodies such as UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and UK Export Finance.
Paul Lindley, IFB2016 Ambassador and Founder of Ella’s Kitchen, said:
“For businesses today, Brand Britain is one of the most valuable trading assets. With the help of UKTI, we can be bold about exporting and entering new markets where British brands are viewed at a premium.
“It is great to see such strong government support for businesses looking to expand internationally – IFB2016 is just one example of this and highlights our strength as a great trading nation.
“The Festival will help businesses to meet the right investors and suppliers through networking opportunities, valuable advice and will ultimately secure trade deals to successfully expand into new territories.”
Ian McCarthy, IFB2016 Festival Director, said:
“IFB2016 is about showing off the best of British and letting the world know that the UK is the home of international business.
“Last year’s festival was a resounding success generating £200 million of inward investment and over 7,000 new jobs.
“IFB2016 is even more ambitious and will provide unrivalled networking opportunities and practical advice for businesses to access new markets.”
