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<p>Over the past three years we have put commercial and economic diplomacy at the
heart of the FCO's agenda<br>We are committed to supporting British business and boosting
UK trade as set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Charter for Business
and UKTI's Strategy "Britain Open for Business: the Next Phase".</p><p>We
have opened new missions and reinforced our economic diplomacy staff in many of the
fastest growing markets in the world. We have taken steps to strengthen commercial
skills at all levels within our Embassies. Ambassadors and their teams across our
network are lobbying hard to open markets, promote free trade, support pro-growth
policies and counter risks to economic stability. This approach lies at the heart
of our G8 agenda on tax, trade and transparency and underpins our on-going work to
deliver an ambitious EU-US trade deal.</p><p>With UKTI we are delivering a number
of ambitious initiatives across the globe to promote trade and investment and boost
jobs and growth. The High Value Opportunities programme aims to assist UK businesses
to secure £10billion of business in key emerging markets. The Prime Minister has appointed
sixteen Trade Envoys who are working with our Embassies and High Commissions to champion
opportunities for British business and lobby to improve the business environment and
resolve market access issues.</p><p>Our Posts are also promoting Britain through the
"Great" campaign – a visually powerful campaign that is making real strides
in promoting the UK as a modern and innovative country in which to invest and with
which do business. Ministers have been urged to travel extensively to support this.
We are focusing our efforts on both established markets and those emerging markets
where there is high potential for growth in the future.</p><p>The FCO and UKTI are
also committed to implementing the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee
review: Supporting British Exporters Overseas (see Treasury Minute CM 8847 – 37th
Report), a key component in the Government's ambition to achieve £1 trillion of exports
annually by 2020. We have committed to an economic "roadmap" to the £1 trillion
target, closer joint working on our trade and investment strategy and on planning
across government, and work to address visa barriers to trade and investment.</p>
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