THERESA May is to use Westminster’s Easter recess to launch a global charm offensive to find new markets to boost trade as Britain prepares to leave the EU.
The Prime Minister will travel to Jordan and Saudi Arabia in coming days for talks on trade and defence.
At the same time, Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, will visit India with a “heavyweight delegation” of business leaders.
Liam Fox, the Trade Secretary, will tour the Philippines as David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, goes to Burma and Singapore.
The pitch by Mrs May and her ministers will be to sell the country as “Global Britain,” an attractive market for inward investment in the UK Government’s latest bid to build trade links outwith Europe.
In his trade mission to Delhi and Mumbai, Mr Hammond will urge Indian businesses to make greater use of City of London expertise.
Those on the trip will include Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, some of the UK’s most experienced leaders in financial services and FinTech – financial technology – entrepreneurs.
Mr Hammond said: “I’m delighted to lead a heavyweight delegation to India to bang the drum for British business. I am determined to create a truly global Britain, promoting the best of what we have to offer.”
Dr Fox will tour Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta as well as Dubai and Oman.
Mr Mundell will visit Burma and Singapore this week to promote Scottish business interests such as oil and gas, whisky and technology. In Burma, the Secretary of State will meet prominent figures in the oil and gas industry.
With much of Burma’s current resources located in deep water, Mr Mundell will promote the expertise of Aberdeen’s oil and gas industry. He will also meet the Burmese energy minister to discuss progress on projects supported by the UK Government’s Prosperity Fund.
The Scottish Secretary will also meet Burmese ministers to discuss lifting import bans on foreign spirits, opening new markets for Scotch whisky. Despite a ban on the general retail of imported spirits, Scotch whisky exports to Burma totalled £2.4 million in 2016.
He said: “I will bang the drum in Burma for Scotch whisky, helping the industry secure new markets.
“With 34 bottles of Scotch whisky shipped overseas every second to 175 countries, the UK Government is committed to promoting a truly global exporter.
“As we prepare to leave the EU, we want to build trade relationships with allies old and new. I am certain Scottish companies will be at the forefront of this.”
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