Don’t worry we haven’t changed calendars, to join up with those parts of the world that have a Spring new year. Instead because the UK’s financial year runs from April to March, it feels very much like the start of a new year in the Embassy. So we are busily checking our plans for the year ahead and wanted to share some of that thinking. We work in pillars: Prosperity; Security; Consular; Values. So I am going to follow that structure too.
Prosperity is about supporting British companies make the most of commercial opportunities, supporting them if they have difficulties and helping them represent our country in a way that makes us proud. It is also about ensuring the climate for business is conducive to sustainable economic growth and opportunity for all. In Guatemala and Honduras we have identified certain sectors where we see a link between our markets and will prioritize those this year for example infrastructure, energy and security. We will continue to work on the Prime Minister’s agenda of Tax, Transparency and Trade and in that context want to maximize the implementation of the trade pillar of EU /Central America Association Agreement which entered into force last year. We also want to support development of transparency in both countries such as through the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.
Security for us is all about prevention. We have done several activities to promote the concept of breaking the cycle of violence and finding alternatives to violent cultural norms through sport and the arts over the years and this will continue to be our approach this year. We look forward to the June Preventing Sexual Violence in conflict summit in London.
Consular work with British nationals is one of our most important functions. We will continue to provide a modern, efficient, consistent and professional services to traveler and residents. We provide assistance to British nationals in distress, provide emergency passport facilities, offer support during crisis situations and realize various notarial and documentary services. Our travel advice for Guatemala and Honduras are regularly updated at and our services are provided by fully trained staff. We will continue introducing changes to improve the services we offer and to give more choice in how consular customer access our services, making them easier and quicker.
Our values are to ensure the implementation of international human rights standards. This is an incredibly wide area but we have picked the areas where we think we can most support the excellent work done by British and other NGOs focusing on freedom of expression; women and children’s rights; the protection of human rights defenders and promoting business and human rights.
We also plan to be very British and show what is best about our culture so expect more music and film and theatre – especially as it is the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth. And of course in a football World Cup year we will be making some noise for England. Time to win a trophy I reckon.