Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

23rd January 2015 Washington DC, USA

Avatar photo

by Lindsay Chura

Senior Policy Advisor in Science and Innovation

Falklands Symposium: Q&A with Professor Scott Baker (USA)

Following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, the first ever Pan–American Science Delegation to the Falkland Islands is participating in a week-long mission to showcase the beauty of the UK South Atlantic Overseas Territories and immense opportunities for scientific research and collaboration in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Scientists from the US, Canada, Chile, […]

Read more on Falklands Symposium: Q&A with Professor Scott Baker (USA) | Reply (1)

23rd January 2015

Avatar photo

by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Abriéndose hacia un desarrollo económico

La Ley de Soborno de 2010 del Reino Unido es de alguna manera un desafío para la legislación. Esto nos obliga a todos a pensar como funcionamos. Esto puso un marco legal en el cual hacemos estos juicios. Esto va al corazón de prácticas éticas y responsables. Así que pasar 5 días hablando de ello […]

Read more on Abriéndose hacia un desarrollo económico | Reply

23rd January 2015

Avatar photo

by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Top Turkish entrepeneurs – in London

Take five brilliant Turkish entrepreneurs. Add Turkish and British venture capitalists, round-trip tickets to London, consultancy services by accountants and lawyers on setting up in the UK, work visas and tax issues; mentoring sessions; and a guided tour of London’s “Tech City” technology hub.  Mix thoroughly and turn out. Result: a host of terrific business […]

Read more on Top Turkish entrepeneurs – in London | Reply (1)

23rd January 2015

Avatar photo

by Bruce Bucknell

Former British Deputy High Commissioner Kolkata

Taxpayers

Last week, we formally opened the new Visa Application Centre in Minsk.  This was a satisfying moment as we had been working on this for much of last year. The new centre in Minsk is part of a global programme to close visa sections in embassies, and transfer the application process to privately run application […]

Read more on Taxpayers | Reply (1)

23rd January 2015 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Celebrating Robert Burns

Guest blog on the occasion of Burns Night (25 January), written by Deborah Moss, Organising Committee member of “Wee Burns” It is a tribute to the poet, Robert Burns, that Scots have held Burns Suppers for over 250 years to remember a man whom many consider to be Scotland’s most famous son. According to the Johnnie […]

Read more on Celebrating Robert Burns | Reply

23rd January 2015

Avatar photo

by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Farewell to Perth

My final visit to Perth. It’s actually the Australian city I knew best before I moved here, as it’s just a short hop from my previous post in Singapore (closer than Canberra, 2000 miles and 3 time zones away), and because my Aunt – a “ten pound Pom” – had settled here. I’ve usually got […]

Read more on Farewell to Perth | Reply

22nd January 2015 Singapore

LEDs lighting the way to a brighter future for energy efficient technology in Malaysia

This guest blog is from Myles McCarthy, Director of Implementation at Carbon Trust, who are currently undertaking a Prosperity Fund project on LED energy efficient technology in Malaysia. I find talking about energy efficiency very interesting, and I do it a lot. But until recently I hadn’t had the opportunity to do it on primetime television […]

Read more on LEDs lighting the way to a brighter future for energy efficient technology in Malaysia | Reply

22nd January 2015

Avatar photo

by Edward Ferguson

British Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia

Jobs, jobs and jobs

When Peter Sorensen was asked in his final press conference as the EU Special Representative what should be the priorities for the future, his reply was simple: “Jobs, jobs and jobs.” It’s difficult to disagree. Unemployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the highest in Europe at around 30%, with youth unemployment – according to the […]

Read more on Jobs, jobs and jobs | Reply (6)

22nd January 2015 Hanoi, Vietnam

Giles Lever, UK Ambassador to Vietnam

by Giles Lever

British Ambassador to Vietnam

2015 – The Year of ASEAN?

My 2015 began after a relaxing Christmas here in Vietnam with my family. Getting back to work after the holidays started with a trip to Manila. On my way to Manila, I experienced some new beginnings. I took the new Nhat Tan bridge and expressway and saw the newly completed international terminal. (When I first arrived in […]

Read more on 2015 – The Year of ASEAN? | Reply

21st January 2015 Washington DC, USA

Avatar photo

by Lindsay Chura

Senior Policy Advisor in Science and Innovation

Falklands Symposium: Q&A with Dr Steven Campana (Canada)

Following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, the first ever Pan–American Science Delegation to the Falkland Islands will participate in a week-long mission to showcase the beauty of the UK South Atlantic Overseas Territories and immense opportunities for scientific research and collaboration in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Scientists from the US, Canada, Chile, […]

Read more on Falklands Symposium: Q&A with Dr Steven Campana (Canada) | Reply