- Martin Kent appointed as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for
Asia Pacific
- With total UK-Asia Pacific trade worth more than £120
billion, the region offers huge potential for UK businesses
- Kent joins department’s team of nine HM Trade Commissioners
encouraging UK trade and investment and promoting Global Britain
across the world
Martin Kent has today [18th September] been appointed as His
Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, succeeding Natalie
Black CBE.
As the new Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, he will generate
business opportunities for the UK while contributing to the
growth of sustainable, resilient, and productive economies across
the region.
Prior to his new role, Martin Kent was the Minister and Deputy
Head of Mission in the British Embassy Tokyo, a Director within
the Department for Business and Trade, and also HM Deputy Trade
Commissioner for Africa. He started his career with the Boston
Consulting Group (BCG), and has worked across the Asia Pacific
region, including in BCG’s Singapore and Australia offices.
Alongside trade and investment, Kent will pursue regional
security priorities in his new position, protecting free trade
and supply chains and continuing the progression already made by
the AUKUS security pact.
Business and Trade Secretary, , said:
Our network of HMTCs bang the drum for Britain across the world,
promoting UK trade, investment, and export finance.
I am delighted to welcome Martin to this role and am confident he
will build on our outstanding track record on trade in Asia
Pacific, expanding opportunities for British businesses in one of
the world’s fastest growing markets.
With total UK-Asia Pacific trade worth more than £120 billion,
the region offers huge potential for UK businesses.
The recently signed trade deals with Australia and New Zealand
are set to deliver an economic boost by driving trade up by 53%
with Australia and 59% with New Zealand and could also mean
reduced prices for UK consumers on favourites such as wine, Tim
Tams and kiwi fruit and lowered costs on machinery parts for UK
manufacturers.
Further benefits are to be expected following the signing of the
UK’s assession to CPTPP in July. Being part of the bloc will mean
that more than 99 per cent of UK goods exports to CPTPP countries
will be eligible for zero tariffs.
HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Martin Kent,
said:
I am delighted to be appointed as His Majesty’s Trade
Commissioner for Asia Pacific. The region is the engine room of
the global economy and is a major driver of global economic
growth and opportunity for UK businesses.
I will be focused on securing and implementing high-quality Free
Trade Agreements, attracting investment to all parts of the UK,
opening markets for UK exporters, and positioning the UK as a
beacon for free trade in the Asia Pacific region.
