World Trade Week UK highlighted the importance of global trade in creating jobs and growth. Through a series of events, reports and other activities, it helped showcase the success of the UK as a trading nation and the importance of global trade to reducing global poverty and the importance of combating protectionism. 

World Trade Week UK was a joint initiative from the Departments for International Development (DfID) and Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

We supported World Trade Week through a variety of activities:

• Assisting with the organisation of the International Trade Conference on 8 June
• Helping to carry out activities overseas
• Hosting events in London

World Trade Week UK events hosted by FCO

We worked with Trade Policy Unit and the Overseas Development Institute by jointly hosting two events at the FCO building in King Charles Street. 

Trading Up: Creating Prosperity for Women

This event focused on the opportunities and challenges for women posed by the decline in world trade and showcase sustainable business models. 

Guest speakers included:

• Patricia Francis (Executive Director, International Trade Centre)
• Minouche Shafik (Permanent Secretary at DfID)
• Clair Durkin (Head of Trade Policy Unit)

Trade Policy in the crisis: what implications for development?

At this Overseas Development Institute event, leading experts focused on how the global crisis has affected trade policy, how this affected developing countries, and the possible policy options.

Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary General for UNCTAD was one of the key note speakers. The event was followed by a book launch of the new World Bank book on Trade Preference Erosion.