16th February 2016
Skopje, North Macedonia
Living as a student in the UK what mainly contributes for my satisfaction are opportunities that the university offers. However, the quality of higher education in the UK is not news. It is well known that some of the best universities in the world are here, and they not only provide students with first-class academic knowledge, but also enable them to […]
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23rd December 2015
Paris, France
With considerable justification, COP21 has been widely hailed as a success. It reached a legally-binding agreement that aims to keep global warming well below 2 degrees, with a review-mechanism towards ever more ambitious targets, and financial commitments to support developing countries on their path towards environmental sustainability. This agreement is far better than most could […]
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17th November 2015
Montreal, Canada
Inspiring, fascinating, stunning, challenging, desolate – just some of the adjectives that my trip to the far North of Quebec conjured up. The visit was my first to the region and was organised for the diplomatic corps by Quebec’s Ministry for International Relations, hosted by the foreign minister Christine St. Pierre. The destination for our […]
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12th November 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
I recently met a group of top Turkish business folk from the financial sector. They were an impressive group and a powerful advertisement for the talent Turkey has to offer. We discussed how best to boost Turkey’s role as a financial centre. Turkey needs more inward investment. It must compete for that investment with other […]
Read more on Creating an environment for foreign investment: what “independent” means | Reply
2nd November 2015
Havana, Cuba
This week sees FIHAV take place. As in previous years, hundreds of companies from all around the world will converge on Havana, brandishing their wares and exhibiting their widgets. This year though FIHAV will be even bigger and even better. The rapprochement between the US and Cuba, the new investment law and the launch of […]
Read more on Cuba & FIHAV; Trade and Investment in a Tough Neighbourhood | Reply (1)
14th August 2015
Islamabad, Pakistan
The first week back from a holiday brings a fresh perspective and a new impetus to your work. While of course the day-to-day business of diplomacy goes on – as witnessed by the successful visit to Pakistan by the Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon – it is a chance to step back and […]
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12th August 2015
New Delhi, India
Investment, infrastructure, smart cities, bonds and financial services were the top agendas for Cabinet Minister and Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Letwin’s three day visit to India from 27-29th July. Mr. Letwin’s visit was the first visit by a British minister to India after the polls in the UK in May. Mr. Letwin carried the message […]
Read more on Oliver Letwin: London committed in financing India’s journey to becoming an economic power | Reply
26th March 2015
Pretoria, South Africa
Last week had a distinctly technical flavour for me, with the arrival of Professor Robin Grimes, the Foreign Secretary’s Chief Scientific Adviser making his second official visit to South Africa. Prof Grimes gave a lecture in Pretoria hosted by the National Science and Technology Forum on the UK’s Nuclear Energy Vision to a packed room of scientists, journalists and officials(recordings available). […]
Read more on UKinSouthAfrica hosted a GREAT Britain zone at SciFest Africa 2015 | Reply (1)
20th February 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Next week promises to be a big week for UK-Turkish trade and investment. Lord Livingston, the British Minister of State for Trade and Investment, will visit Turkey from 22-25 February. The Minister will open a GREAT Technology event; hold formal high-level talks with Trade Minister Zeybekci; meet British investors in Turkey, and Turkish investors in […]
Read more on UK and Turkey: doing good business | Reply (3)
18th February 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
British people are often accused of using too many sporting metaphors. Expression such as “a good innings” (doing well but nearly finished) or “a sticky wicket” (a hard-to-defend situation) come from cricket. Others, eg “game, set and match” (the contest has ended) or “ the ball’s in your court” (it’s up to you to make […]
Read more on Business in Turkey: the rules of the game | Reply
