our supporters
Here are some of the organisations that are taking part in the week.
David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC):
“Standing firmly behind open trade is of vital importance to recovery. Governments around the world need to resist domestic political pressures for protective measures and defend the recent progress made in freeing up global trade."
“The BCC will be working with the international Chamber Network to mobilise business to support free trade.”
Make Your Mark – Global Entrepreneurship Week
“World Trade Week UK is a great opportunity to encourage entrepreneurs to think and act global, realising their full trading potential. Those trading locally or regionally in June could be global entrepreneurs by November! We’ll be putting the spotlight on international trade during Global Entrepreneurship Week November 16-22 so why not start something now…”
Emma Jones, Founder of Enterprise Nation the home business website
"With research showing the proportion of home based businesses deriving more than half their sales from overseas customers as greater than for other SMEs, we are delighted to support World Trade Week. It’s a week that will shine a light on trading across borders; borders that have become invisible on account of advances in technology. It is incredible that you can now start a business from the spare room in the morning and be selling to the world by midday."
Ian Powell, Chairman PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
"As an international network of firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers understands the importance of free trade for the world economy. I support World Trade Week and efforts to highlight the need to defend open markets. The Week comes at a critical time with the current economic crisis, highlighting the need to resist protectionism, co-ordinate international regulation and support open trade to aid the global economic recovery."
John Cooke, Chairman, Liberalisation of Trade in Services (LOTIS) Committee:
"International Financial Services London's (IFSL) LOTIS Committee has pursued trade liberalisation in services - particularly financial services - for more than two decades. World Trade Week UK is a reminder of the importance of international trade in the global economy, and of the need to maintain the liberalisation agenda and resist swings toward protectionism. IFSL welcomes World Trade Week UK. We are glad to support and participate in the week's activities, which speak for our members' interests in open markets round the world."
Patricia Francis, Executive Director, International Trade Centre
"Creating curry paste creates jobs. But do you know where the paste is packaged? Whose hand designs the labels? Do you know who the majority shareholders are of those big companies which market internationally popular and leading brands ? Whilst growing spices for export creates jobs in India, thousands of jobs are also created in the freight handling, food processing, packaging and distribution industries in the United Kingdom. At ITC we help small businesses in developing countries profit to lift people out of poverty. But job creation doesn't stop there: As the world's largest re-exporter of curry paste, that's UK industry at work.
"In sum: World trade is the paste that binds people and products; creating profits, combatting poverty. The successful conclusion to the Doha Round of negotiations is critical given the central importance of trade in the recovery."
Rob Law, Creator of Trunki
"World Trade Week UK is a great chance for business leaders to be educated about the benefits of global trade. As creator of the Trunki brand, we’re keen to encourage open markets as a platform for shared skills and trading knowledge."
"We must not hide from the current economy either. Trading globally provides Trunki with a more robust and diverse income stream that’s not exposed to local economies, which can also give a natural hedging against foreign money markets."
Rory Macmillan, Government & Public Affairs Director, Nike EMEA
‘Nike Inc is the global leader in the sporting goods industry and an international company operating in more than 160 countries around the globe with more than 30,000 employees across six continents. International trade and sustainable development is central to our business and our partners in supply chain and retail. We believe strongly in the importance of trade liberalization and support World Trade Week UK as it aims to raise awareness of the importance of open markets in today’s global economy.’
Richard Ward, Lloyd's CEO
"As the world's leading specialist insurance and reinsurance market, operating in over 200 territories, Lloyd's is pleased to support World Trade Week UK. We recognise the importance of encouraging market access and resisting protectionist measures, particularly in the current economic climate. World Trade Week UK is a good opportunity to promote the importance of international trade in the global economy and Lloyd's is glad to be participating in the week's activities."