London: The UK Department for Business and Trade has announced International Trade Week (ITW) 2025, scheduled from November 3 to 7, aiming to assist British firms in exporting goods and services to boost wages, create jobs, and enhance economic growth. The free trade-focused events are open to businesses of all sizes and sectors, catering to both novice exporters and experienced ones looking to expand their market reach, as stated by the Department.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the event will feature a variety of in-person activities, workshops, and webinars designed to help attendees enhance their exporting knowledge and skills. Participants will gain valuable insights into specific markets and understand key global opportunities. Since ITW 2024, the UK Government has successfully negotiated three significant trade agreements with the US, EU, and India, alongside launching a comprehensive Trade Strategy to maximize trade opportunities.
Now in its fifth year, International Trade Week is organized by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in collaboration with industry partners and sponsored by Santander UK. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which comprise 99.8 percent of the UK business population, stand to benefit significantly from the support offered by DBT and Santander in building their capacity to seize global opportunities.
John Baldwin, CEO of Santander Corporate and Commercial Banking, Santander UK, expressed enthusiasm for supporting International Trade Week, emphasizing the challenges faced by businesses with international ambitions and the importance of such initiatives in facilitating overseas growth. "According to our recent Trade Barometer, over a quarter of businesses express a need for assistance in finding customers, business partners, and suppliers abroad," Baldwin noted. He highlighted the critical role of initiatives like International Trade Week in providing the necessary support for businesses to thrive internationally.
The Government has also made its extensive exporter support more accessible through the new Business Growth Service, which includes export funding via UKEF and the UK Export Academy. Last financial year, the academy aided over 11,000 businesses in achieving international sales, underscoring the effectiveness of the support infrastructure in place.