(Blackpool South)
(Con): A trade deal with Israel would slash
red tape and increase investment opportunities for both the UK
and Israel. What progress have the Government
made in securing a bilateral free trade deal with our close
ally?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International
Trade ( ): I am delighted
that my hon. Friend raises this issue because, of course, our
trade and partnership agreement was originally signed as one of
the first continuity agreements back in 2019, but the Prime
Minister announced last year that we would begin talks with
Israel on an enhanced and improved
UK-Israel free trade agreement. We have had a
consultation, and I look forward to taking that work forward to
boost our trade and investment relationship and to make sure the
further ambitions of both nations are secured.
(Strangford) (DUP): Will the Minister outline
what steps have been taken to solidify our technological
partnership with Israel, in the light of the
tremendous advances that come from that nation, and the potential
that home tech companies have to expand if we can build
relationships more effectively?
Mr Jayawardena: Israel is one of the middle
east’s most dynamic and innovative economies and there is a great
opportunity in tech in particular. It is not only a bilateral
opportunity but a multilateral or plurilateral opportunity: I was
recently in Brazil, which is interested in a three-way
partnership between Brazil, the United Kingdom and
Israel.
