Freeport East welcomes new Freeports Delivery Roadmap which will benefit local communities and businesses

Freeport East welcomes the UK Government’s Freeports Delivery Roadmap, designed to maximise support for inward investment, trade, and job creation. It includes over 50 measures across transport planning, energy infrastructure, skills support, and innovation funding, alongside a new £150m fund for business investments in freeports and investment zones.

The recently published Roadmap follows the government’s proposal to extend tax reliefs to 2031 on freeport development sites, boosting efforts to attract inward investors to Freeport East.

Read the full article here.

Call for engagement - CPTPP

In July 2023, the UK formally agreed to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The deal offers new opportunities for UK firms and exporters to diversify supply chains across a variety of important global markets including Singapore, Japan, Mexico and many others.

The UK government is currently legislating to bring CPTPP into legal effect and will aim to do this before the General Election later this year.

The BCC is working with the Department for Business and Trade to raise the profile of firms that stand to benefit from the CPTPP Trade Deal in the run up to the Bill receiving Royal Assent.

If you would like to engage, particularly those in the manufacturing sector, or who trade/operate supply chains across Asia or the Indo-Pacific, please contact internationaltrade@cambscci.co.uk.

Coming up in January:

Opening Doors to Global / International Trade
Wednesday 24 January, 9.30am-1.00pm

This workshop is ideal for business owners, managers, entrepreneurs, and executives, who are interested in expanding their operation into new markets. It is also appropriate for individuals looking to launch a new global opportunity.

International Marketing Workshop
Wednesday 31 January, 9.30am-1.00pm

This course will equip learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully create and execute a global marketing plan.

You can view the full list of all our training courses for 2024 on the Chamber website.

Courses can also be tailored to meet your company’s specific requirements. For more information about a bespoke course for your company, which can be delivered remotely or in person, please contact the Chamber on 01223 237414.

Ghana: Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) and Automotive Investor Mission
23 - 26 January 2024, Accra, Ghana

Supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Ghana JET is organising an automotive mission to Ghana.

JET is FCDO’s flagship investment-led programme to support Ghana’s economic transformation. The five-year programme seeks to spur £30 million of investment and create 7,000 jobs across three priority sectors in Ghana: Automotive, Pharmaceuticals and Textiles and Garments.

The programme includes business and government meetings along with tailored support and meetings offered to individual companies as required.

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Wednesday 31 January is the deadline for the first reporting period in the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism covering embedded carbon emissions in non-EU exports in six key economic sectors.

To support this we are holding a webinar on Tuesday 6 February from 3.00-4.00pm where we will will discuss the questions below and explain how you should prepare for CBAM.

What is Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism?
When does it start?
How will it work?

You will receive important key information to take away from the session including how to plan your sustainability strategy.

FREE to attend.

Clean Energy Supply Chain Opportunities in the UK and USA
Tuesday 20 February, 1.30-3.30pm
University of Essex Colchester Campus, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ

Join EEEGR, the University of Essex, Innovate UK EDGE, Essex Business School and the US City of Virginia Beach for an event discussing
the sustainable opportunities and funding available to businesses in the East of England, the UK and the USA in the near future.

Speakers at
the event will include: John Stenhouse, Investment and Equity (University of Essex), Julie Pauley, Ecosystem Relationship & Gateway Lead
(Innovate UK EDGE), Fernando Centeno, Sustainability Lead (Innovate UK EDGE), Paige Fox, Business Development Manager (City of
Virginia Beach, USA) and Charles Macdowell, UK Representative (City of Virginia Beach), Sophie Skipp, Head of Energy Skills (EEEGR).

SAVE THE DATE

ONS UK trade data for November 2023 was released last Friday. Read the BCC reaction to the data and the ongoing issues in the Red Sea and Suez Canal for seaborne trade.

The BCC took part in a Cabinet Office briefing on the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) last week, hosted by Minister Lucy Neville-Rolfe. The Minister indicated that all phases of rollout of inbound GB border controls on certain food and plant products is on target. She also emphasised the importance of maximising our contact with traders and their suppliers to ensure readiness for Wednesday 31 January. 

This week, the BCC participated in the Taskforce on Export Support initiated by the Labour Shadow Business and Trade Team at Westminster, in conjunction with the FSB. A report is being drawn up by the end of February. If you have any ideas for our submission please email internationaltrade@cambscci.co.uk.

The EU have confirmed that release 3 of ICS2 (Import Control System 2) will go ahead on Monday 3 June covering maritime and inland waterways carriers with an obligation to provide an ENS (entry summary declaration).

Reminders of good practice for export licence applications in 2024 and beyond has been written. Please click here for more details.