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  • PRESS RELEASE : World Trade Organization General Council – UK Statements [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : World Trade Organization General Council – UK Statements [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 March 2023.

    The UK spoke on a variety of agenda items at the WTO General Council on 6 – 7 March 2023.

    Let me start by echoing many others who are paying tribute to those arriving and departing, particularly to Ambassador Spencer who is leaving us with typical eloquence. Kingston’s gain is very much Geneva’s loss. I think she has always kept her eyes on the prize and certainly has been moulding consensus in this organisation for her time here and she will be much missed.

    Looking to our agenda, it’s absolutely right that, as we did at TNC [Trade Negotiations Committee] we look ahead to where we want to be in a year’s time, amidst the glories of the UAE, trying to have a successful MC13 and in doing so, have a sense of what we want to achieve at MC13 and the agenda which we wish to set. And we very much support the DG in looking to an agenda that is green, that’s digital, that services, and is inclusive. As our Chinese colleague reminded us earlier, in doing so, I think we have to be alive to what is happening outside of this organisation as well. And in that respect, let me welcome the Global Oceans Treaty agreed yesterday, which of course builds on what we achieved in this organisation just last June in the able hands of the gentleman up on the stage today [Santiago Wills, former Chair of the Fisheries negotiations, now Director TNC Division, WTO].

    As we look ahead, we obviously have to build on those very successful retreats we’ve had including the development retreat. And as my good friend George [Amb. Australia] (who is about to follow me and probably take any of the good lines I would otherwise have used) said just last week, we have done a lot of retreating and now the time is for a little bit of advancing and to build on those discussions. So let me thank those who have put forward practical proposals, whether they be India or the LDCs or the Latin Americans, in terms of how we can actually reform by doing in this organisation; how we can improve the quality of our work, right across the piece.

    Just on the Indian proposals I think we, like others, recognise the importance of them. We need to think about how we use the CTD [Committee on Trade for Development] that doesn’t duplicate or undermine other bodies in this organisation; and how we ensure that in the work of all the Committees of this organisation, we advance with a view to the development perspectives which we have in each and every body of this organisation.

    Let me also pay tribute to our EU partners and friends for the proposals they have brought forward today. I think it’s a really important idea; there are a lot of really important themes we need to consider in this organisation. It is right that we need to think about the diverse and complex forms of state intervention that we now experience in the global economy and how we consider those within this organisation and with others. And there is some great work in the secretariat with the World Bank, the IMF and the OECD in this regard and, having consulted very carefully with the CTE [Committee for Trade and Environment] Chair, I think it is really noteworthy that we’ve got some very practical ideas here for taking forward the work of that organisation. Again, going back to where I started with the Global Ocean Treaty, there is really important work that is being done outside this organisation: this latest Treaty but also COP15 in Montreal in December, work which identifies things that we need to be taking forward in trade policy and trying to bring that back here into this House and work out how we can contribute to sustainable development. I think it’s a real key task for this organisation as we prepare for MC13.

    Ecommerce

    “I would like to thank the facilitator for her work and the update just now. We welcome very much discussions under the Work Programme so far which are delivering on the mandate from MC12. We are pleased to see a high level of engagement from all Members, especially developing countries and LDCs. The UK has been pleased to share its experience on consumer protection and telecommunication policy issues in recent meetings. We think that the Work Programme is a valuable forum for exchanging information, experience and best practice on key Ecommerce policy issues. We should explore ways in which we could deepen discussions moving forward, and we very much support the facilitator in involving, as has been suggested, other international organisations and businesses into Work Programme discussions. We look forward, also, to discussions on the customs duty moratorium in April at the meeting of the Work Programme. And it’s well-known: the discussion must be focused on the need to move forwards and not backward at MC13.

    MC12 TRIPS

    The UK has indicated flexibility on the deadline for concluding negotiations on Paragraph 8 of the MC12 TRIPS decision and places high importance on the inclusive processes to resolve procedural ambiguity in Therapeutics and Diagnostics discussions. The UK supports robust, evidence-based policy making in TRIPS Council and encourages members to remain cognisant of the precedent which actions set now and for future negotiations, and the bearing outcomes will have on business confidence in the international system to innovate, invest and collaborate.

    Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs)

    Just to briefly say we really welcome Mauritius and Guatemala bringing this issue to our attention, and thanks to the many colleagues who have highlighted the particular issues that SVEs face. We are very keen on engaging on this issue and we recognise the particular trade challenges that SVEs, including SIDs, face and we need to take forward that work in the dedicated session later this month. I would just say, for those of you that have not spotted already, that in our own International Development Strategy we have set out an ambition, an ambition that by 2030 those Small Island Developing States, the SIDs, would have the economic and climate resilience not only to graduate from ODA with sustainable economies but also to withstand economic and climate shocks. And I think trade policy, including the work we do in this organisation, has a really crucial role to play in this respect.

    Accessions

    Thank you very much for the report and for all the work that lies behind the efforts to bring Comoros and Timor Leste to accession. I think we should take some pride in the fact that quite so many countries wish to join this organisation. Which, I think, I hope, reflects the fact that by joining this organisation their trade will increase, their prosperity will increase. That is a good thing, and we occasionally tie ourselves up in knots about it but it’s a positive thing and let me just say, we are trying to help this process. We are providing technical assistance targeted at Uzbekistan’s accessions process and we are actively engaged with Tashkent on that. And we also held a really positive joint round table in Addis Ababa with the Economic Commission for Africa on Ethiopia’s accession, and I think out of that came a really strong commitment from everybody to restart that accession process and work to support Ethiopia’s accession. I think that is very positive, not only in of itself, but also as part of the broader peace effort in Ethiopia so thank you very much and I think this is a good news story.

    LDC Graduation

    I would like to start by thanking the Ambassador of Djibouti for the proposal and the Ambassador of Togo for presenting, and thank Bangladesh for their tireless work and flexibility to try and achieve an outcome on this proposal. As George reminded us, graduating out of LDC status is a success; it shows that your participation in this organisation is working and helping you develop as a country, but it is right, as we have been trying to work out how to do, that we ensure that that graduation process works properly for the countries concerned. I hesitate to use the words ‘quick wins’ in this organisation, but this does appear to be one of those things which should be a ‘quick win’. We just haven’t won it quickly enough. But it is certainly something that we should be trying to deliver before or at MC13, a low-hanging fruit which should be part of that harvest, that we hope to reap in Abu Dhabi. Obviously, as others have said, the primary issue here is where we discuss this. To be honest, for us, we don’t really mind, but we are very happy to support the LDC request to move this proposal to the LDC sub-committee and we very much hope that by doing so we will be able to come to a swift conclusion on this important issue.

    Subsidies

    We thank Cameroon for introducing the paper, and officials in capital are reading it with interest and an open mind, as many others are. We agree with many points in the paper, particularly around the importance of multilateralism and that the WTO as a multilateral institution has to be relevant and responsive to the problems faced by all Members, and we recognise that many of the areas raised in the paper are of high interest to Members in this room. We also recognise that this is one of a number of contributions that we are having in this debate, and we note, as others have, the parallels with the EU paper which we saw under Item 2. And in particular we saw the importance of making the WTO fit for purpose, avoiding unilateralism and subsidy races. So we look forward on engaging on this going forward. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : United Kingdom helps freeze more than £48 billion in Russian assets [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : United Kingdom helps freeze more than £48 billion in Russian assets [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 9 March 2023.

    The United Kingdom and its allies have re-affirmed their joint commitment to enforce sanctions on Russia.

    Since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs Taskforce (REPO) has worked across the globe to block or freeze more than £48 billion in Russian assets.

    The United Kingdom alone has frozen more than £18 billion in Russian assets.

    Security Minister Tom Tugendhat met with the Task Force on the morning of Thursday 9 March 2023.

    Speaking after the meeting, Minister Tugendhat said:

    The UK continues to play a leading role in holding Russia to account for its unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.

    Alongside our allies in the Russian Elites Proxies and Oligarchs Task Force we have blocked or frozen more than £48 billion worth of Russian assets, putting unprecedented financial pressure on Putin and his cronies.

    Together we stand united in defending global democracy and fighting against authoritarianism. There is more to come.

    Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the European Commission are all members of the taskforce, which was set up to exert unprecedented pressure on sanctioned Russians.

    At the meeting REPO members agreed a joint statement which sets out achievements to date and the ongoing international focus on enforcing sanctions on Russia.

    Members also released a global advisory, to assist banks and the private sector, on Russian sanctions evasion.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The 10 INSTEX shareholder states have decided to liquidate INSTEX due to continued obstruction from Iran [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The 10 INSTEX shareholder states have decided to liquidate INSTEX due to continued obstruction from Iran [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

    The UK, France and Germany (the E3) have issued a joint statement announcing the liquidation of INSTEX.

    The E3 said:

    The INSTEX shareholders – Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK – have decided to liquidate INSTEX.

    INSTEX was set up by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in 2019 to facilitate legitimate trade between Europe and Iran, particularly in humanitarian goods.  Over the past 4 years, INSTEX has consistently tried to facilitate trade exchanges between Europe and Iran. There was a strong and sustained demand by European exporters to use the INSTEX mechanism, mainly from the humanitarian sector.

    For political reasons, Iran has systematically prevented INSTEX from fulfilling its mandate. Iran only agreed to a single transaction, in early 2020, for the export of medical goods from Europe to Iran. After that, Iran consistently and deliberately blocked other proposals for transactions between the United Kingdom, Norway, the European Union and Iran. This was born from a political determination to impede the use of INSTEX under any circumstance. Thus, the Iranian leadership has chosen to act against the interests of its people by refusing to cooperate on the export of medicine and other life-saving goods.

    In light of Iran’s persistent refusal to engage with the company, the INSTEX shareholders have reached the conclusion that there is no more ground for maintaining INSTEX operational. The INSTEX shareholders have voted in favour of the dissolution of INSTEX at the extraordinary general assembly of March 9th 2023. This decision is taken on its own merits for exclusively commercial reasons.

  • PRESS RELEASE : IAEA Board of Governors – Agenda Item 7 – Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine – UK National Statement [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : IAEA Board of Governors – Agenda Item 7 – Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine – UK National Statement [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

    IAEA Board of Governors, March 2023. Agenda Item 7: Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine. UK National Statement.

    Thank you Chair,

    The United Kingdom thanks the Director General for his latest report on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine. We also welcome the Joint Statement delivered by Canada and supported by 50 Member States. This is another clear repudiation of Russia’s senseless actions against nuclear safety in Ukraine.

    Chair,

    As we mark one year of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, I would like to start by taking a moment to pay tribute to the bravery, resilience and determination of both the people of Ukraine – who continue to defend Ukraine from Russia’s war of aggression – and Ukrainian staff working at the Zaphorizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant who continue to work tirelessly to uphold nuclear safety under extremely difficult conditions.

    Chair,

    Russia’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine’s sovereign territory continue to be a violation of international law, and the UN charter. Unbelievably, as we have heard this morning, last night Russia launched further attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and its nuclear facilities.  As the Director General said, as a result of these attacks the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost its only remaining connection to the electricity grid (for the sixth time since the start of Russia’s war of aggression). There are also reports of missile strikes near Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs.

    Let us be clear. Only one country is responsible for these attacks – Russia. This is unacceptable and has to stop. Russia’s contempt for nuclear safety threatens us all. As the Russian Ambassador stated earlier this week – “attacks on nuclear facilities – including “in Ukraine and at Zaporizhzhia” – are unacceptable and must stop immediately. We urge him to act on his own words.

    Frankly, Chair, I am shocked by the Russian Ambassador’s attempt just now to suggest that Russian shelling – such as last night’s – is not a risk to nuclear safety. The United Kingdom utterly condemns this further escalation in the strongest possible terms. We call again on the Russian Federation to cease its senseless actions against Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.

    Chair, as the Russian Ambassador just said, “There is a problem and we can only solve it in one way”.

    Chair, that way is for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.

    Chair,

    The Director General’s report before us today is another helpful, independent assessment of the nuclear safety and security implications of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. What happened last night was not the first time. As a result of attacks earlier in the reporting period, all of Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants lost external power. As the Director General set out in his report this is “a concerning development”. We also welcome the clarity in the Director General’s report about the seriousness of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Put simply, continued Russian control of the plant and the Russian occupiers’ horrific treatment of its Ukrainian staff – despite the Russian Ambassador’s attempts to claim otherwise – are increasing the risk of a nuclear incident. This is irresponsible and unacceptable.

    We share the Director General’s “grave concern” about decision making at the site, due to contradictions in the chain of command and note that each one of the Director General’s “seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety security” have been compromised. We were also extremely concerned to see the Director General report that the Russian Federation has not responded to pleas from the Agency to remove military vehicles and equipment from the turbine halls of reactors one and two, further endangering nuclear safety.

    Let me re-stress that point: military vehicles and equipment, which the IAEA has witnessed but the Russian Ambassador denies exists. Russia’s continued actions are not compatible with the actions of a responsible nuclear actor. The Russian Federation is solely responsible for this “dangerous, precarious and challenging” situation. The United Kingdom remains clear that the solution to this long list of threats to nuclear safety and security is for Russia to cease its illegal control of the Plant.

    Chair,

    We also condemn Russia’s efforts to spread disinformation about events in Ukraine – disinformation we have already heard repeatedly this morning from the Russian Ambassador, including the incredible accusation that Ukraine shelled its own electricity grid. We note that the DG’s report confirmed that the final analysis of samples taken by the IAEA in its investigation into Russian allegations of a `dirty bomb’ did not find any indications of undeclared nuclear activities or materials related to the development of radiological dispersal devices or high explosive compounds. This lays to rest another of Russia’s ridiculous, baseless allegation, although I note the Russian Ambassador’s attempt to revive these just now – more disinformation. The Russian Ambassador says Russia has never taken action against nuclear facilities. Those were his words. Occupying an NPP? Shelling its power supply? Stationing military vehicles in the turbine halls? These are all clear examples of actions taken against nuclear facilities.

    Chair,

    The United Kingdom continues to support the work of the IAEA in Ukraine. We welcome the establishment of a permanent Agency presence at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities in January. This will be important to help Ukrainian staff to manage the challenging situations they find themselves in.

    Chair,

    The United Kingdom will continue to support the Agency’s work in Ukraine. Since the crisis began, we have already provided over 4.5 million euros to support the Agency’s work in Ukraine and I am pleased to announce today a further 570,000 euros of United Kingdom funding to support the Agency’s nuclear security work in Ukraine. We support the Director General’s efforts to enhance nuclear safety and security around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, including his attempts to establish a nuclear safety and security protection zone that protects these seven pillars and upholds Ukrainian sovereignty.

    Finally Chair,

    The United Kingdom would also like to inform Board Members of the actions we will continue to take at the IAEA and more broadly to ensure Russia is held accountable for its actions. We will continue to expose and sanction those supporting Russia’s illegal war and on 24 February, the United Kingdom announced a further package of sanctions which includes senior executives at Rosatom. We also reaffirm our commitment that no UK extra-budgetary funding to the IAEA will benefit the Russian Federation; that no UK experts will attend IAEA events in Russia; and that no UK experts will appear on panels for Agency events alongside participants from the Russian Federation. We call on other Member States to take similar action.

    Thank you Chair.

     

  • PRESS RELEASE : OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan: UK response [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan: UK response [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

    Deputy Ambassador Brown thanks Hans-Ulrich Ihm from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan for the team’s work, including on cyber security, human rights, and climate change.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. I would like to welcome you Mr Ihm to the Permanent Council and thank you and your team for your report and work over the last year.

    The UK has continued to build our relationship with Uzbekistan and is committed to supporting the Government there in carrying out its wide-ranging reforms, which we hope will continue at pace in the coming year.

    My ambassador had the pleasure of visiting Uzbekistan and your field mission in November and was encouraged by the field mission’s relationship with the Government of Uzbekistan’s foreign ministry, their interest in engaging with the mission on human rights issues, and their recognition of the importance of countering disinformation and providing reliable official communication.

    It was clear from my visit that your mission can clearly play a major role in assisting the Government of Uzbekistan with their planned reforms, as well on issues like gender equality; the economy and environment; climate; and on strengthening resilience on transnational threats, including cyber.

    I would like to focus my remarks on some of these areas.

    First, we welcome your mission’s prioritisation of cyber security and efforts to support the host government to strengthen its national capacity to effectively address these.

    Second, the UK is deeply concerned by the risks climate change poses to the long term security and prosperity of Central Asia, and fully supports the OSCE’s activities helping to mitigate its impact in Uzbekistan. The Glasgow Climate Pact recognised the importance of mitigation by keeping nationally determined contributions (NDCs) on the UNFCCC agenda, and we call on the Government of Uzbekistan to commit to ambitious NDCs. Concerted climate action has become more important as attention is forced away from the climate crisis by Russia’s war against Ukraine.

    Thirdly, we acknowledge the work of the OSCE in promoting democratic policing principles and encourage the Uzbek government to address alleged human rights abuses. The UK was deeply concerned by events in Karakalpakstan in July 2022, and we call on the Government of Uzbekistan to follow a transparent process as they bring security forces to account where necessary. Protecting human rights is a cornerstone of the OSCE. We welcome democratic principles being embedded in the constitution, and the consultative process being followed in identifying these changes. We hope the ODIHR will be invited to observe the postponed referendum on constitutional reform.

    We thank the OSCE for their work highlighting the role of media and civil society. Media Freedom is essential to democracy, allowing citizens to directly engage with government. During his trip to Uzbekistan my ambassador met with members of civil society. We encourage the mission in Uzbekistan to support the Uzbek government in fostering an enabling environment for civil society.

    We also welcome the work of the mission in addressing gender-based violence. We have conducted a series of training events in Uzbekistan for religious leaders and law enforcement in cooperation with UNFPA on addressing gender-based violence.

    In closing let me thank the team in Uzbekistan for their efforts in upholding the principles of the OSCE, and ensuring their important work continues, particularly in light of the considerable challenges caused by the blocking of the unified budget. We hope that staffing issues do not reduce the efficacy of the office in 2023.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : FCDO to appoint second Permanent Under-Secretary [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : FCDO to appoint second Permanent Under-Secretary [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

    The FCDO will appoint a second Permanent Under-Secretary to deliver the Government’s development priorities.

    A new second Permanent Under-Secretary role will be established in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the department announced today (Thursday, 9 March).

    The role will focus on delivering the Government’s international development priorities and will report into the FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary, Sir Philip Barton.

    This brings the FCDO into line with other large government departments that already have more than one Permanent Secretary, including the Cabinet Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury.

    Recruitment for the new role will begin shortly, with the successful candidate expected to take up their post later this year.

    The FCDO previously had a Second Permanent Under-Secretary, Sir Tim Barrow, who took on the role of National Security Adviser in September last year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement from Ambassadors and Prime Minister Mikati [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement from Ambassadors and Prime Minister Mikati [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

    Joint statement from the Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Deputy Ambassador of Japan and PM Mikati

    We, the Ambassadors of the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Netherlands and Deputy Ambassador of Japan met with his Excellency Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday 7 March 2023 and together with the Prime Minister we have all agreed on our continued support for transparency and accountability in Lebanon. We confirmed our collective support for the IMPACT oversight platform under Central Inspection. IMPACT’s work is ground-breaking and the first of its kind in Lebanon.

    We agreed that Central Inspection has a fundamental role in support of governance practice and ensures compliance with laws and regulations across all government institutions. We rejected misleading media allegations that target UK support in Lebanon and welcomed the support that has enabled the development and implementation of the successful IMPACT platform.

    The PM agreed to endorse UK support to Central Inspection by ratifying the Memorandum of Understanding as per Lebanese regulations. We look forward to continued progress on this important agenda.

  • PRESS RELEASE : International Women’s Day 2023: UK Statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : International Women’s Day 2023: UK Statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

    Ambassador Neil Bush outlines the UK’s commitments to gender equality and the launch of the International Women and Girls Strategy.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    International Women’s Day in 2023 comes at a time when threats to gender equality continue to increase. Climate change and humanitarian crises disproportionately affect women and girls. We continue to see attempts to row back on women’s rights in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan. Violence against women is growing online. And horrific levels of conflict-related sexual violence are being perpetrated through Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    The theme of International Women’s Day in 2023 is “Embrace Equity”, focused on opening up a conversation on why equal opportunities are not sufficient on their own to effect change. Equitable action is required to bring about true inclusion.

    The UK is committed to improving the outlook for women and girls globally. Yesterday our Foreign Secretary launched the UK’s International Women and Girls Strategy, during a visit to his mother’s hometown in Sierra Leone. The Strategy sets out how the UK is putting women and girls at the heart of everything we do. We will stand up and speak out for women and girls’ rights and freedoms at every opportunity, work with our partners to do the same, and build international consensus to stop those intent on rolling back on rights and putting hard-won progress into reverse.

    Advancing gender equality is not just the right thing to do – it is a policy from which everyone benefits. Greater gender equality is the fundamental building block of all healthy democracies. It brings freedom, boosts prosperity and trade, strengthens global and regional security, and builds resilience.

    The UK has a strong track record on gender equality. Since 2015 we have supported the education of more than 8 million of the world’s most vulnerable girls. Since 2013, we have helped secure pledges from over 10,000 communities – representing over 27 million people – to abandon Female Genital Mutilation. In November 2022, we hosted the ‘Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative’ International Conference, and launched a new Political Declaration endorsed by 53 countries.

    Empowering women and girls, and preventing violence against them, will remain a UK priority. We are committed to ensuring every girl receives at least 12 years of quality education, and to ending the preventable deaths of mothers, new-born babies and children by 2030.

    Mr Chair, we can only build a fairer, freer, safer, wealthier and greener world if we put women and girls at the heart of the OSCE’s work. Women’s leadership, perspectives and knowledge are essential for local, national and regional progress. At the PC/FSC yesterday we discussed the issue of Women, Peace and Security, which demonstrated that participating States remain overwhelmingly in favour of the OSCE doing more on this across our region.

    It is vital that participating States fulfil their commitments to gender equality – set out in the 1999 Charter for European Security, and related decisions – and ensure adequate funding for OSCE executive structures working to implement the organisation’s gender equality commitments.

    As we have stated previously, International Women’s Day is not just a day. It is about the actions we take every day to ensure the equal rights of all women and girls.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to host African Investment Summit in April 2024 [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to host African Investment Summit in April 2024 [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

    The Prime Minister will host a UK-African Investment Summit in London on 23-24 April 2024.

    • The announcement comes as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly signs new trade and investment agreement with Sierra Leone whilst in Freetown.
    • Summit aims to promote two-way trade and investment, creating jobs and growth and supporting women entrepreneurs.

    The Prime Minister will host a UK-African Investment Summit in London on 23-24 April 2024.

    The Summit will bring together Heads of State and Government from 24 African countries with British and African business leaders. It will strengthen UK-African partnerships to create jobs and growth, supporting British and African talent in sectors such as finance and technology, and promote women entrepreneurs.

    The Summit will build on the results of the UK-African Investment Summit 2020 and virtual UK-African Investment Conferences in 2021 and 2022. The UK-African Investment Summit 2020 marked an important milestone in our partnerships with African countries and announced over £6.5bn of deals, plus a further £8.9bn of investment commitments.

    The virtual conferences in the following years built further connections between UK and African businesses, with more than 3,000 UK and African delegates looking at future opportunities to facilitate deals, with a focus on clean growth opportunities across the continent.

    By 2050, two billion people will live in Africa, more than half will be under 25.

    During the next two years, faster economic growth is expected across Sub-Saharan Africa than the global average. And as the world faces the stark and shared challenge of climate change, the UK is working with African countries to support them to mitigate and adapt to its effects, recognising Africa’s abundant potential for renewable energies of the future.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    To grow the UK’s economy, create opportunities for growth and bolster our economic security, we must deepen our ties with partners across the world.

    This summit will ensure we are able to harness the potential of our relationships across Africa and grow our economies together, making them stronger, resilient, and innovative.

    By facilitating business-to-business links, trade opportunities and investment, UK-AIS will help harness this potential for the creation of mutual prosperity, economic growth, jobs and a global transition to green energy.

    Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary, James Cleverly, working closely with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade, Kemi Badenoch, will lead work across Whitehall to prepare for the Summit.

    The Foreign Secretary said:

    The UK’s trade and investment relations with countries right across the African continent are delivering significant mutual economic benefits to all of us.

    Affirming the UK’s position as a leading investor in Africa, this second African Investment Summit in London will build on our successes since 2020 which have combined the strengths, innovations and expertise of the UK and our partners across Africa to support reliable, sustainable and long-term investment.

    The UK and Africa go far when we go together.

    The Foreign Secretary committed last December to focusing on partnerships of the future with countries whose economies, populations and ultimately influence globally are growing.

    He sees countries in Africa as central to this and is seeking to build on our partnerships across the continent on the basis of respect, mutual benefit, common interests, and, most importantly, by listening to African countries’ perspectives.

    That has been a major part of his visit this week to Sierra Leone, where he has signed an agreement between the UK and Sierra Leone on trade and investment. He also met members of the government and opposition leaders to take stock ahead of upcoming elections, and discuss UK support towards growing the Sierra Leonean economy.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets up annual UK – Sierra Leone trade and investment forums; and deepens the trade partnership between Sierra Leone and the UK.

    Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

    I’m pleased that we are building on the success of the 2020 Summit as we continue to strengthen our excellent relationships with our African partners.

    These partnerships have already helped grow our economies, and I look forward to coming together again to discuss our joint ambitions to increase trade and investment, enhance market access and create jobs.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Disproportionate impact of Russia’s invasion on the women and girls of Ukraine – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Disproportionate impact of Russia’s invasion on the women and girls of Ukraine – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

    Ambassador Neil Bush says that we remain deeply humbled by their courage and determination – and stand united with them today and forever.

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you and Ukraine have already mentioned, this morning we woke up to news of Russian strikes across Ukraine including Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv. There are reports of at least five people killed in residential areas of Lviv. We also note with concern reports of electrical power supply loss at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Only last week the IAEA again raised concerns about the risk of a nuclear accident at the plant. We condemn Russia’s continued attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. This has to stop.

    Mr Chair, as we will later remark on, yesterday the world celebrated International Women’s Day. With that in mind, I will focus my statement today on the continued impact of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on women and girls.

    On the last International Women’s Day, in March 2022, there was little to celebrate for the women of Ukraine. In the early months of Russia’s invasion, 90% of those forced from their country, and 60% of those internally displaced, were women – often making perilous journeys whilst Russian missiles rained down. Of those who made the difficult decision to remain, many women and girls suffered unspeakable cruelties at the hands of Russian forces. We will not forget the thousands of women and girls who have been killed or injured as a result of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war, including our colleague Special Monitoring Mission member Maryna Fenina. Maryna was killed just over a year ago on 1 March 2022 when Kharkiv was shelled by Russian forces. She was simply trying to find food and supplies for her family, her once peaceful city being turned into a war zone by Russia.

    War affects everybody, regardless of gender or age – however, it has long been recognised that women and girls are disproportionately impacted and are at far greater risk of gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence and human trafficking. We have been compelled to speak multiple times in this Council of the documented, widespread and systemic use of sexual violence as a weapon by Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. The evidence uncovered by this organisation, by the United Nations, by the Government of Ukraine, by civil society groups and by many more is staggering and utterly horrifying. This evidence exists because of the bravery of survivors and witnesses, who, in their refusal to be silenced, break down stigma and enable justice. We must not fail them in delivery of that justice.

    Ukrainian women have found themselves as the primary caregivers and providers, taking on additional responsibility for their families and communities following the loss or absence of male family members. Access to vital services has been greatly reduced. As stated by the Director of the United Nations Population Fund, “access to sexual and reproductive health services are not peacetime luxuries; they are essential, and they save lives”. Ukrainian women should not be expected to give birth in makeshift underground maternity wards whilst dust falls from the ceiling, caused by relentless Russian shelling. Ukrainian women should not be denied safe abortion care, especially following the trauma of rape and sexual assault by Russian forces.

    Despite the horror and trauma many have experienced over the past 12 months, Ukrainian women and girls have shown remarkable courage and resilience. From the tens of thousands of women serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Territorial Defence Forces, to the millions of women from all walks of life who go to work each day to support the defence of Ukraine, regardless of the daily air raid alerts, power shortages and near constant danger. From the female first responders and medical professionals, to those across the Ukrainian diaspora supporting refugees and displaced persons, we salute the bravery, the humanity and resilience of all those ensuring that Ukrainian voices are heard across the world.

    These mothers, daughters, sisters and protectors of Ukraine demonstrate strength, compassion and integrity in support of the defence of their country, their people and their principles in what are for many, unimaginable circumstances. We remain deeply humbled by their courage and determination and we stand united with them today and forever.