Global General

UK appoints trade champion to promote its excellence

By Zhang Chunyan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-20 21:03

London -- British Prime Minister David Cameron announced Wednesday that Lord Brittan of Spennithorne will join a network of Britain's most prominent business and academic leaders to promote the UK’s excellence internationally.

“The Business Ambassadors have made a valuable contribution to the UK’s economy, to UK business and to the UK’s general prosperity,” Cameron said.

According to UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Lord Brittan is vice chairman of investment bank UBS and former trade advisor to the British government, with more than 30 years of international trade experience.

Prior to joining the Business Ambassador Network, he played a key role in developing the British government's trade and investment strategy, which outlined plans to develop trade with other countries and to support UK companies that want to export.

“He will be a valuable and effective addition to the network,” Cameron noted.

The Business Ambassadors Network was created in October 2008, with a particular focus on helping small and medium-sized enterprises, which sometimes face greater barriers to accessing global markets than larger businesses.

The roles in the network are unpaid.

About the appointment, Lord Brittan said, “I am delighted to join this impressive network of some of the UK’s most vibrant and forward-thinking business and academic minds.”

“Individually each member is known and respected across the world for the contribution they have made to promoting UK excellence and I look forward to working with them,” Lord Brittan added.

Since the Business Ambassadors Network was set up, its members have carried out over 85 international engagements in 26 different countries, promoting British trade across the globe, UKTI said.

UKTI is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy.