I was in London last week for a packed one-day training to understand how the Foreign Office supports the overall work of the British Government to take forward the growth and prosperity agenda. Commercial diplomacy is a newly coined concept yet diplomats have always been looking out for business potential in their host countries, whether in areas fit for British investment or in relation to inward investment from overseas businesses.
The Foreign Office and the UK Trade and Investment are gearing up resources to pursue British business interests, as set in the Charter for Business. It was therefore refreshing to meet colleagues working in the Commercial and Economic Diplomacy Department, a core delivery unit in the Foreign Office, and learn how they can support our work at the British Embassy in Romania and viceversa. Ever since the inception of this team, I felt much better connected to the thinking in London about policy developments and strategic work that, naturally, involves us in the overseas posts.
So, now with another hat on, I look forward to testing my newly acquired understanding of commercial and economic diplomacy. We have a big event lined up for end September so watch this space!