All posts in Convention2021

The coffee market in the United Kingdom used to be very different from other European countries. However, the market is changing rapidly. While tea used to be the traditional hot beverage in the United Kingdom, the coffee sector is growing in importance. While British consumers traditionally drink more instant coffee compared to the European countries, the sales of ground and speciality coffees are growing. Especially certified coffee is important for the British consumer.

Product description

There are two main types of green coffee beans:

• Coffea Arabica: Plantations are generally at altitudes over 1,000 metres. This makes it a so called highland coffee. The average length of coffee beans of this variety is around 9 mm. Their colour is greenish to blue-green. The coffee beans have a strong, full flavour. Arabica beans have a caffeine content of approximately 1.2%.
• Coffea Robusta: Robusta coffee can be considered a lowland coffee. Its plantations are below 1,000 metres. Robusta beans are small, round and generally brownish to yellowy green. Their beans have a higher water content than Arabica coffee. They generally have a less powerful flavour. Robusta beans have a caffeine content of approximately 2.3%.

In Europe, the Combined Nomenclature (CN) uses Harmonized System (HS) codes to classify products that are traded. The HS codes for green coffee beans are given below. The available data do not distinguish between conventional and speciality coffees.

Speciality coffee is defined by the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE, now integrated into the Specialty Coffee Association – SCA) as the art of manufacturing a quality cup of coffee, which is judged by the consumer to have a unique quality, characteristic taste and personality, superior to the common beverages offered. This beverage consists of coffee beans which have grown at a designated location and have been processed under the highest quality standards for raw processing, roasting, storing, and finally the preparation to a beverage.

Recently, specialty coffee shops have become very fashionable in the UK. Although coffee consumption in the UK as such is not increasing, more and more Britons are drinking coffee out-of-home in coffee shops. The List of Coffee Roasters in the United Kingdom and Ireland gives a good idea of the profiles of roasting companies and their roasting characteristics. The general consumer preference in the United Kingdom is for lighter roasts, similarly to Germany and slightly lighter than in the Netherlands.

1. What makes the United Kingdom an interesting market for coffee?

Coffee consumption in the United Kingdom grows steadily

The United Kingdom is the fifth largest consumer market for coffee in Europe. Britain consumed a total of 216 thousand tonnes (3.6 million 60 kg bags) in 2015. This accounted for around 9% of the total green coffee consumption in Europe in 2015. The British coffee market grows at around 10% yearly.

Although the United Kingdom is the fifth largest coffee market in Europe, per capita coffee consumption is relatively low. Each British person consumes only around 3.3 kg of coffee per year. This is much lower than the European average of 5.4 kg.

The United Kingdom has traditionally been a nation of tea drinkers, but coffee is starting to win over more and more British consumers. Compared to most other countries in Europe, consumers in the United Kingdom favour instant coffee, especially among older generations. However, the consumption of (higher quality) ground coffee and single-serve pods is increasing significantly among millennials.

Coffee imports are growing

The United Kingdom was the seventh largest importer of green coffee beans in Europe in 2017, with a volume of 165 thousand tonnes. Imports between 2013 and 2017 grew at an annual rate of 3.0% in volume and 8.0% in value.

Growth in British re-exports is slowing down

British re-exports of green coffee beans amounted to 8 thousand tonnes in 2017. This represents 1.2% of the total European re-exports of green coffee beans. After high re-exports in 2016, these have slowed down in 2017. Overall, re-exports from 2013-2017 have grown at an annual rate of 3.9% in volume and 11% in value.

The United Kingdom mainly re-exports within Europe. The main destinations in 2017 were:

• Ireland (47%)
• Sweden (8.5%)
• Germany (5.9%)

Exports to Sweden increased significantly in 2013–2017, at an annual rate around 18%. In the same period, exports to Ireland increased by 6% annually, while exports to France and Germany decreased at -3.0% and -8.8%, respectively. South Africa is the leading non-European destination, accounting for 5% of British coffee re-exports in 2017.

British consumers are changing their preference from tea to coffee

The United Kingdom is going through a major shift, from a tea to coffee-consuming country. While tea has been the traditional hot beverage in the United Kingdom until now, younger generations have started to drink more coffee than tea. As a result, the number of coffee shops in the United Kingdom have increased significantly. Costa Coffee is the main coffee shop chain in the country, with a sales growth of +14% between 2014 and 2015.

In addition, the United Kingdom is a hotspot for new and innovative coffee brews. See for example these articles by about the popularity of ‘fizzy coffee’ and nitrogen induced coffee.

The specialty coffee market in the United Kingdom grows at full speed

Traditionally known for the consumption of instant coffee, the United Kingdom is experiencing a significant growth in higher quality coffees. The specialty coffee segment is expected to grow by 13% yearly until 2020, surpassing the general growth of the coffee market (estimated at 10% yearly).

The growth of the specialty coffee market is highly influenced by out-of-home consumption. The market for coffee shops, espresso bars and other establishments grows faster than the retail market. The expansion of speciality coffee chains (examples: Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, Taylor St Baristas, and Notes) and the involvement of established chains such as Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero in speciality coffees are shaping this market.

The changes in the British coffee market also affect in-home consumption. The third wave (see our study on coffee trends) has led to the premiumisation of the consumer market. This has increased competition among speciality coffee brands. It is estimated that 7% of consumers in the United Kingdom owned coffee equipment at home in 2015, compared to 2% in 2014. Example of such equipment: V60, aeropress and chemex.

This fast pace has also led to a fourth wave in the British coffee market (see this development in our study on coffee trends). Examples of progressive coffee companies identified by the World Coffee Portal are:

• Workshop Coffee Co.
• Square Mile Coffee Roasters
• Caravan
• Origin Coffee.

There is also focus on new technology and scientific methods to refine the coffee-making process, from farm to cup. This focus supports the argument that the specialty market is moving toward to “science of coffee”.

Certification continues to play a big role in the United Kingdom

Certification schemes are well established on the British market. Sustainability concepts and labels are important in both mainstream and niche markets for coffee.

In the United Kingdom, sales of Fairtrade coffee have increased nearly 10 times in the last 12 years. Several coffee shop chains such as Soho Coffee and AMT Coffee and larger retailers such as Tesco sell Fairtrade-certified coffee.

Rainforest Alliance is the leading certification in the mainstream coffee market in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has the largest number of Rainforest Alliance certified coffee retailers, coffee shops and brands in Europe (these include Costa Coffee, Tesco and Marks & Spencer).

The innovative British market is also open to lesser-known certification schemes such as Bird Friendly-certified coffee. The United Kingdom has most of the Bird Friendly-certified importers in Europe. However, the scheme represents a very small share of the market.

2. What requirements must coffee comply with to be allowed on the market in the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom will leave the European Union in 2019, the so-called Brexit. The exact implications on import regulations are unclear at this time. These next few years coffee exported to the United Kingdom must still comply with strict food safety legislation as well as other European Union legislation.

You can only export your product to Europe if you comply with strict requirements. In our study on buyer requirements for coffee you can find a detailed analysis of these requirements. Specifically for the British coffee market the following topics are important:

Legal requirements

You must follow European Union legal requirements applicable to coffee. These mainly deal with food safety. Traceability and hygiene are the most important themes. Special attention should be given to specific sources of contamination. Pesticides, mycotoxins and Salmonella (though coffee is considered low-risk) are the most common for green coffee beans.

There are no specified import regulations in the United Kingdom that differ from European Union regulations for coffee. However, you should note the United Kingdom will leave the European Union in the near future. Import regulations might change on the longer term.

Quality criteria for coffee

Green coffee beans can be classified using two methods:

• the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) green coffee grading protocols 
• the Brazilian/New York green coffee classification (applicable to Brazilian coffee only)

Grading is usually based on the following criteria:

• Altitude and/or region
• Botanical variety
• Preparation (wet or dry process, washed or natural)
• Bean size (screen size), sometimes also bean shape and colour
• Number of defects (imperfections)
• Roast appearance and cup quality (flavour, characteristics, cleanliness)
• Density of the beans

Higher quality coffee (specialty coffee) is graded according to a cupping score. Fragrance, flavour, aftertaste, balance, acidity, sweetness, uniformity and cleanliness are important topics in the grading process (see below for more information).

The definition of specialty coffee has not been formally established within the coffee industry. A cupping score below 80 is considered standard quality and not specialty. This is in line with the Coffee Quality Institute, which states that coffees graded and cupped with scores above 80 are considered specialty coffees. The cupping protocols of the Specialty Coffee Association also consider a score of 80 as being below specialty quality. However, the exact minimum scores defining speciality coffee differ per country and buyer. Some buyers consider 80 as too low and demand a cupping score of 85 or higher.

Roasting

Coffee can be roasted in several ways. In general, lighter roasts are less heavy, more acidic. They have more flavour than the darker roasts. Darker roasts have more body.

The degree or darkness of roast, as well as its duration, has a direct impact on the flavour profile of coffee.

There are other important variables which affect the flavour or can develop the potential of the coffee. Some of them are:

• Roasting time
• Charge temperature
• Rate of rise
• Drum speed or air flow & cooling speed
• First and second crack timing
• Sensory experience of the roaster.

Labelling requirements

Labelling of coffee exported to the United Kingdom should be written in English. Labels should contain the following topics to ensure traceability of individual batches:

• Product name
• International Coffee Organisation (ICO) identification code
• Country of origin
• Grade
• Net weight in kg
• Certified coffee: name/code of the inspection body and certification number.

Packaging requirements

Green coffee beans are sensitive to water absorption. They are therefore transported in woven bags made from natural fibre (jute or hessian). These allows free circulation of air.

Most green coffee beans of standard quality imported into the United Kingdom are packed in container-sized bulk flexi-bags. These hold roughly 20 tonnes of green coffee beans. The rest of the green coffee is transported in traditional 60-kilo jute sacks, which will have a net volume of around 17-19 tonnes of coffee.

Materials such as Grainpro or other innovative materials can be used to pack specialty coffees.

Additional requirements

Quality management system certification may be required by buyers. A system based on Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) is often a minimum standard required, but some buyers will also expect you to have certificates such as International Featured Standards: Food (IFS) or British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Corporate responsibility and sustainability is growing in importance in the coffee sector. Adopting codes of conduct or sustainability policies related to environmental and social impacts of your company can provide you with a competitive advantage. See for example the corporate responsibility policy of Nestlé UK, which has an important presence on the British coffee market. Also see the sustainability policy of Tassimo (from Jacobs Douwe Egberts), one of the main coffee products sold in the United Kingdom. Traders such as ED&F Man also have elaborate social responsibility policies which guide their businesses.

The United Kingdom is one of the largest worldwide markets for Rainforest Alliance. UTZ certified is less prominent. As described under trends, the United Kingdom has the largest number of Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee retailers, coffee shops and brands in Europe. These include Costa Coffee, Tesco and Marks & Spencer.

Requirements for niche markets

The United Kingdom is the largest market for Fairtrade-certified coffee. Fairtrade appeals to British consumers. Organic-certified coffee also represents an important niche market, with brands such as Cafedirect, Equal Exchange and Percol focusing on organic coffees (commonly in combination with Fairtrade). Some smaller speciality roasters such as Beanberry Coffee Company also focus on the organic market.

3. What competition do you face on the British coffee market?

The six leading developing country suppliers of green coffee beans are shown in Figure 2. Vietnam has the highest share in the British coffee market at 22%, followed closely by Brazil (21%) and Indonesia (15%).

Vietnamese supplies are recovering from a drop of exports to United Kingdom in 2013-2014. In 2017, exports were almost at the level of 2013. Brazilian supplies have fluctuated strongly in recent years. Overall, its imports increased at an annual rate of 3.0% in volume and 4.4% in value from 2013-2017.

Other large suppliers in 2017 were:

• Colombia (12% of British imports)
• Honduras (4.9%)
• Peru (4.2%)
• Ethiopia (3.4%).

4. Through what channels can you get coffee on the British market?

The British coffee sector can be divided into two segments:

• In-home consumption – British consumers are traditionally known for the consumption of instant coffees of low quality such as Nescafé. However, the market for instant coffees is declining with the introduction of coffee pods and filtered coffee. The British market segment is becoming more diverse. More and more consumers are also interested in higher-quality coffee. This brings retailers to offer a wider coffee portfolio. In general, Tesco is the leading retailer in the United Kingdom (29% of the market), followed by ASDA (17%), Sainsbury’s (16%) and Morrisons (11%).
• Out-of-home consumption – This market segment is growing. More and more British consumers are having coffee out of their homes, such as at restaurants, coffee shops and cafes. The number of coffee shops is increasingly rapidly in the United Kingdom, reaching over 20,000 outlets in 2015. The leading coffee shop chains in the United Kingdom are Costa, Starbucks and Caffè Nero (together controlling more than half of the market). The number of independent speciality coffee shops increases at a fast pace. In addition, the Daily Mail predicts that coffee shops will overtake pubs across Britain in 2030.

The coffee market can also be segmented according to quality (for example, the percentage of high quality Arabica coffees in blends, single origins, micro-lots, marketing aspects, etc.) and related prices (see the section on prices below). The British market reflects the segments found on the European market (see our study on channels and segments in the European coffee sector): upper-end, middle range and lower-end segments. Both in-home and out-of-home consumption of coffee incorporate these segments.

Figure 3: Market channels for coffee in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has a traditional coffee trade structure. It has a wide network of importers connecting suppliers in producing countries to roasters around the country and elsewhere in Europe. The expansion of the speciality coffee market has also opened possibilities in niche markets. A number of smaller-scale roasters became involved in direct trade with producers in developing countries, making the chain shorter.

As an exporter, entering the British market will depend on the quality of your coffee, your volume capacities (for example, more or less than 10 containers per year) and the strategy of your company (for example, supplying the market through intermediaries or directly to end-users).

If you are an exporter that can offer higher volumes of green coffee beans (10 containers or more), you can enter the British market through large importers. Some of the main players are:

• DRWakefield 
• ED&F Man
• Falcon Coffees
• Complete Coffee
• CTCS Group: Green Coffee
• Mercanta – the Coffee Hunters.

These importers cover a wide range of qualities, varieties and certifications. Some focus exclusively on speciality green coffee beans (thus requiring high-quality beans).

The United Kingdom also has importers which specialise in ethical products, including coffee. Normally they focus on specific organic and fair-trade markets. Examples of specialised British importers are:

• Equal Exchange
• Cafédirect
• FA Coffee (rare speciality coffees)
• Twin Trading.

If you offer bulk green coffee beans of standard quality in high volumes (10 containers or more), you can also explore directly supplying large roasters. These are mostly subsidiaries of multinational companies (examples: Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts) that dominate the retail market in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom roasters such as UCC Coffee and Lincoln & York  supply the private label industry (sold under a retailer’s brand name).

You can also target smaller roasters directly. This is an interesting option, as independent roasters are rapidly expanding in the United Kingdom. The British market sees an increase in speciality roasters who import directly from producing countries.

Smaller speciality roasters normally focus on higher quality green coffee beans. They give special attention to long-term partnerships. Examples of specialised British roasters that import directly are:

• TripleCoRoast
• Artisan Roast
• Capital Coffee
• Other: the list of coffee roasters in the UK and the database of GoodatCoffee.

Is your experience with entering new markets limited? You have the option to sell your coffee beans to an agent. Such agents function as an intermediary between you and the importer or roaster. In the United Kingdom, a few agents (and brokers) operate on the coffee market.

Agents and brokers are most useful if you deal with commodity-type coffees in bulk volumes. Some examples of agents and brokers operating on the British market are: Marex Spectron and Sucden Financial.

Note that London is one of the global centres for commodity exchange, specifically for Robusta Coffee Futures.

5. What are the end market prices for coffee?

End-market prices for coffee vary depending on the segment of the market. Our study on channels and segments in the European coffee sector provides an overview of the characteristics of the upper-end, middle range and lower-end of the coffee retail market. Typically, export prices of green coffee only account for around 5-25% of the end-market prices, depending on the coffee quality, the size of the lot and the supplier’s relationship with the buyer.

These are price ranges for the British coffee market:

• Upper-end: €226 per kg (Kopi Luwak – 250 gram packaging); €114 per kg (Jamaica Blue Mountain Peaberry – 250 gram packaging)
• Middle range: €17.20 per kg (Sainsbury’s Fairtrade Colombian Coffee – 227 gram packaging;  €18.44 per kg (Taylors of Harrogate Rich Italian Coffee Beans Dark – 227 gram packaging)
• Lower-end: €12.60 per kg (Morrisons Anytime Coffee Beans – 227 gram packaging).

Sources: Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, The Bean Shop, Coffee Bean Shop

Please review our market information disclaimer

Source: https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/coffee/uk

The Uganda UK Trade and Investment Convention has unveiled its new website with lots of resources for members explore new investment opportunities in Uganda.

Every day, the website will feature a new business idea that have been identified as most responsive to the priorities in the various sectors, with an insight of the feasibility of its implementation.

Ugandans in the Diaspora will also be able to submit and promote their businesses for FREE at the Convention’s new e-business directory. One of the objectives of the convention is to create a platform for trade, business and investment between Uganda and Europe (UK) and promote and facilitate access to trade opportunities in Uganda (East Africa) for Ugandan and European (UK) investors, including one-to-one meetings and give an opportunity to businesses to promote their services and products to the Diaspora community.

Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the current social distancing, the Convention advisory board took the difficult decision to cancel this year’s annual Convention to Friday 10th September 2021 and Saturday 11th September 2021 at Park Plaza London Riverbank, 18 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TJ.

Uganda has been consistently drawing the highest FDI in East Africa, attracting between $250 – 300 million in FDI annually between 2010 and 2016 – largely due to its stable and consistent macro-economic policies, liberalized business environment, proximity as a logistics hub within the Great Lakes region and increased regional trade. British investors were particularly active, with 10 project commitments, followed by Dutch companies.

The forum brings together experts, high profile business and government delegates from Uganda and UK, business leaders, Ugandans in the Diaspora, professionals and representatives from prominent organisations based in Uganda, the UK and beyond. Delegates have access to up-to-date information on the vast potential for investment that Uganda offers to both the domestic and international community. They can acquire business tips, obtain relevant literature on priority sectors for investment, take part in an interactive Q & A session and hear about the realities of doing business in Uganda.

The delegates also have a chance to a one on one with a dedicated team from a One Stop Centre (OSC) to answer questions from business registration, tax advice and registration, immigration and work permit issues, land acquisition and verification, as well as environmental compliance, approvals and licensing.

The 2013 Index of Economic Freedom ranked Uganda, the 8th freest economy out of the 46 Sub-Saharan Africa countries. The business operating environment allows the full repatriation of profits after payment of mandatory taxes as well as 100% foreign ownership of private investments. The incentive regime is structurally embedded in the country’s tax laws making them non-discriminatory and accessible to both domestic and foreign investment depending on the sector and level of investment.

Over 100 UK and UK companies operating in Uganda; include well-known companies like Tullow Oil, Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays Bank, Unilever, Citibank; Prudential; AIG; Caterpillar; John Deere; NCR; Sheraton; Marriott; FedEx, Ernst & Young, Deloitte; Price Waterhouse Coopers; General Motors; Coca-Cola; Pepsi-Cola; and American Tower Corporation, Shell and British Airways.

Benefits for British businesses exporting to Uganda include;

• stable, liberalised economy
• strong natural resource base
• government commitment to private sector
• low cost workforce
• part of 2 regional blocs which increases the potential consumer base
• attractive investment policies

A potential investor considering investing in Uganda, will find a well-regulated highly liberalized economy in which all sectors are open for investment with a free movement of capital to and from the country.

Top prospect sectors for U.K. exports to Uganda include; agro-processing, farm and construction equipment; oil production technologies; power generation; renewable energy technologies; manufacturing equipment; information and communication technology products; medical equipment; pharmaceuticals; cosmetics; and consumer goods.

“Britain’s reputation – the goods and services offered by British businesses are often, if not always, considered superior to those of its competitors. It is seen to have a quality, akin to a Kitemark Standard, that others simply don’t match. Uganda Government is very keen on the involvement of British project management whilst other countries can offer cheap labour.
Why attend?

• Gain industry insight, discover the most outstanding projects and property deals, build partnerships and secure investment trust.
• Attend a ‘one stop shop’ opportunity to capitalize and take advantage of the best property deals, services and gain insight from industry experts.
• Face to face access to a wide range of experts to help and guide you with your property or investment purchase in Uganda.
• Access the latest projects by renowned and well-reputed developers, including agencies and lifestyle services based in Uganda.
• A selection of affordable property development projects on display covering the capital Kampala, with varying options such as apartments, houses, gated community developments, villas, serviced plots, plus more.
• There will be banks, mortgage providers giving you advice how to finance your dream home or investment.
• New real estate investment opportunities in commercial or personal home.
• Keynotes from top business and government Ugandan Influencers
• Roundtables highlighting bankable investment opportunities
• Exhibition showcases for investment promotion agencies
• Private bilateral meetings with UK investors
• Dedicated networking sessions
• Identify concrete investment and business opportunities
• Gain access to top ministers, government and business influencers
• Debate and tackle critical businesses, East African investment and trade issues
• Build and strengthen crucial business relationships, networks and partnerships

Who attends?

• Senior government officials: Heads of state, ministers, heads of RECs, investment promotion agency leaders, and policy makers from Africa and beyond
• Executive-level global business leaders, including: CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, COOs, Presidents, MDs, VPs, Government Relations/ Investment Banking
• Financiers and investors: investment banks, private equity, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, family offices, UHNWIs, operators
• International governmental organisations and multilateral agencies
• Professionals services: consultants, legal advisors, risk consultants, academics
• Leading international, regional and local media and publications
• Innovators and disruptors
• Venture capital investors
• Policy makers and political leaders from across Africa
• Central bankers and regulators
• Banking and finance
• professionals
• Development finance
• institutions (DFIs)
• Economists, academics, and thought leaders from across tech and finance
• Blockchain, cryptocurrency, and AI enthusiasts
• Law firms involved in FinTech

FinTech programms will address:

• Policy and Regulation
• Financial inclusion
• New paradigms in banking
• Lending and finance
• Investing in Uganda
• The future of payments
• Blockchain
• Artificial Intelligence
• Identity
• Insurtech

Benefits for British businesses exporting to Uganda include:

• stable, liberalised economy
• strong natural resource base
• government commitment to private sector
• low cost workforce
• part of 2 regional blocs which increases the potential consumer base
• attractive investment policies
• Access to EAC, with a market of over 135 million consumers with a total GDP of USD84.7 billion.

There are loads of reasons why you should attend Uganda-UK Convention 2019 this year. Here, we’ve assembled a list of reasons why you can’t afford to miss a show that – under one roof – will connect you with the entire business community looking to expand to Uganda (East Africa).

1. UK’s Leading Event for Export to Uganda

Uganda-UK Convention is the hub for businesses that are looking to expand to Uganda, export products or set up overseas operations. If you’re looking to take your business into one of Africa’s fastest growing economies “Uganda”, cultures and climates, this is the only show you’ll need to attend.

2. Reach New Markets

There are only so many ways you can market a product to the world. Chances are you’ve already identified your ideal audience or audiences for your products. Uganda Convention will provide guidance on succeeding overseas and house all the suppliers and tools needed to open up a whole new world of marketing opportunities for your business; enabling you to reach new markets in Uganda.

3. Increase Your Earning Potential

Uganda-UK Convention provides a strong focus on the event will cover 10 economic sectors, particularly manufacturing, agribusiness, power, construction, transportation, IT, health, FinTech, tourism and natural resources sectors to give you guidance on entering Ugandan market, and increasing your business revenue exponentially.

4. Unmatched Networking Opportunities

We’re always learning! Learning about a product, service, industry, profession, market segment, trend, process – the list goes on. Network with high calibre visitors and learn how to make your business bloom in the world’s most competitive markets.

5. Inspiring & Informative Sessions

Uganda-UK Convention expert insight from an impressive programme of sessions. The finest line-up of speakers. Doing Business in Uganda – the challenges, common practices, risks and potential rewards of being a multinational enterprise operating in Uganda.

6. 1-2-1 Advice from Experts

Ever wanted to have a chat with one of your industry’s big players? Uganda-UK Convention is a one-time opportunity to have 1-2-1 meetings with experts, government officials, Uganda Investment Authority, like-minded business owners and tap into advice and expertise that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to get hold of. And, learn about what are the major hurdles faced by UK exporters when looking to conduct business.

7. Discussions, debates and meetings will focus on how:

How can British exporters successfully tap into the economic and related infrastructure boom in Uganda/East Africa?

8. It’s Completely FREE to Attend

That’s right, tickets for the event are completely free (but in limited supply!). Uganda-UK Convention is every business’s starter-pack when it comes to expanding to Uganda; so, it’s no surprise that these tickets are so highly sought-after in the industry.

The UK government has nominated former cabinet minister Liam Fox as its candidate to lead the World Trade Organization.

The body is searching for a new director-general to replace Brazilian Roberto Azevedo at the end of August.

Boris Johnson said Mr Fox was a “passionate advocate of multilateralism” with “detailed knowledge” of global trading.

Labour said the WTO would “immediately discount” Mr Fox for the role.

Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry said it was “extraordinary” Mr Johnson would choose a candidate he fired from his role after becoming PM, adding: “There will be little trust in somebody who promised so much in regards to Britain’s future trade yet delivered so little.”

Mr Fox, a Conservative MP since 1992, was an ardent backer of the UK’s exit from the EU.

He said he was “honoured” to be nominated, adding: “I believe that if we want to keep the WTO relevant and vibrant our task is clear: Update, strengthen and reform.

“We must ensure that global trade works for everyone.”

Seven candidates from other countries have also been nominated for the role.

His nomination by Downing Street will come as a blow to former Labour cabinet minister Lord Mandelson, who has also expressed an interest in the role.

WTO member countries have until 17.00 BST on Wednesday to nominate candidates, with voting set to begin later this year.

• WTO head quits early as global downturn looms
• WTO chief: ‘Months’ needed to fix disputes body
• Brexit: What is the ‘no deal’ WTO option?

The contest comes at a crucial time for the WTO, amid a slump in global trade in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Geneva-based body, established in 1995, provides a forum for its 164 members to administer a system of rules governing global trade.

Recently however the body has seen one of its main functions, arbitrating trade disputes, hobbled by a dispute with the United States.

President Donald Trump’s administration has blocked the appointment of new judges, arguing that the WTO has long treated the US unfairly.

Despite being a Brexiteer who wants to see the UK embrace what he sees as the opportunity of signing new trade deals from next year, Liam Fox was sacked immediately by Boris Johnson when he became PM.

But it now seems the PM thinks Mr Fox could be the man to fight for his vision of global free trade.

Mr Fox’s supporters have spoken of the need for a “political leader” at the WTO – and point to his connections with many influential Republicans in Washington.

He’s not the frontrunner. Many countries are expecting an African leader of the organisation – with the favourite from Nigeria at the moment.

Mr Fox joins a field of candidates including Kenya’s culture minister Amina Mohamed, who became the latest to confirm her candidacy on Tuesday evening.

They join Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh, Tudor Ulianovschi from Moldova, and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee.

Jesús Seade Kuri from Mexico and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria complete the field.

The UK is currently aiming to negotiate a free trade agreement with the European Union following its exit from the 27-member bloc in January.

The UK government has ruled out an extension of the deadline to reach a deal, which will come when a 11-month transition period ends in December.

If the two sides fail to reach a bespoke agreement, trade between them will default to the standard international set of rules set by the WTO.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53333616