The UK today [28 September] kicks off the fifth annual Atlantic
Future Forum (AFF), bringing together British and American
captains of industry aboard the UK’s largest and most powerful
warship, the HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The two-day event will focus on new approaches to global security
and future technologies to tackle everything from the war in
Ukraine to climate change, with UK businesses across the defence,
cyber and tech industries able to network with potential
investors.
Addressing over 450 government and business leaders, the Trade
Secretary Kemi Badenoch will highlight the role of free trade in
delivering global economic security and economic growth. She will
say our two likeminded democracies must continue working together
to defend the rules-based international order.
Trade Secretary Rt Hon said:
“The US is our single most important trade, defence and
security partner. We share the same values – freedom, free trade
and the rule of law. Our special relationship means together we
are a force for progress as we face down countries who threaten
these values.
“The Atlantic Future Forum represents an
incredible opportunity for our two nations to exchange skills,
ideas and technology. Every morning, over a million people get up
and go to work for British companies in America, and over a
million do the same for American companies in the UK.
“The UK is a low-tax, high-talent, innovation nation and I
will show America’s biggest companies that we are ready to be
their investment partner of choice.”
The US has been the UK’s largest single inward investment partner
country for the last two decades. US businesses employed almost
1.5 million people in the UK in 2019, up three quarters since
1997. US investment is also supporting the UK’s levelling up
agenda with 60% of these jobs based outside of London and the
South East.
Following her speech, Badenoch will use her two-day visit to New
York to capitalise on growing investor interest in the UK by
meeting New York-based investors to promote the UK as a defence,
cyber and tech superpower and a source of unmatched talent. She
will visit Mastercard’s new “Experience Centre” at their “Tech
Hub” in the Flatiron District of Manhattan and meet with some of
the biggest US and UK companies at a British American Business
roundtable to discuss investment opportunities that can help grow
the UK economy.
Badenoch will speak to her counterpart in the Biden
administration, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, to discuss
how our two countries can further our already thriving trading
relationship.
The Trade Secretary will also use her time in the US to highlight
the opportunities being unlocked at the state level, following
signature of recent Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with
Indiana and North Carolina. The MoUs are designed to cut
red tape and remove barriers facing UK businesses exporting to
the US.
The UK is working towards further MoUs with Oklahoma and South
Carolina in the coming months and seeking to progress talks with
other states this year.
Note to Editors:
- Now in its fifth year, the annual defence, security, trade
and technology forum is convened by the UK Government with full
funding from global industry partners.
