Kit PetersForeign Secretary sends top Ambassador to Wales to drive Belgium trade opportunities
The visit to Wales is part of a new roadshow launched by the Foreign Secretary David Lammy to drive economic growth by building connections between regions in the UK and growth-driving markets.
Ambassadors and High Commissioners are posted for long stints in other countries, and part of their brief is to get under the skin of the place they are based. That includes getting to know the ins and outs of the business landscape, and spotting opportunities for British businesses.
Ambassador Sherriff is one of over fifteen top British diplomats dispatched on a cross-country tour to build relationships with devolved governments, mayors and regional businesses right across the whole country.
The Foreign Secretary says he wants the roadshow to strengthen ties between the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s extensive overseas network and every UK region to boost international trade with key markets such as Japan, Canada and Germany, as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Wales has a strong connection to Belgium but there’s so much more we can do to boost trade and investment.
“I am sending my Ambassador to work directly with local businesses to build connections so they can harness their expertise and effectively champion the interests of Wales most effectively.
“This nationwide roadshow is one of the ways I am ensuring the economic interests of British businesses sit at the heart of our foreign policy as we deliver on our Plan for Change.”
Ambassador Sherriff met with Welsh Government Director for International Relations & Trade Andrew Gwatkin in Cardiff before visiting not-for-profit research and technology organisation CSA Catapult for a tour of their Newport HQ and discussion about its role supporting start-ups, SMEs, large organisations and academia commercialise compound semiconductor technologies.
She also visited the Belgian-owned AB InBev brewery in Magor, Monmouthshire. Originally opened in 1979, Magor is AB InBev’s largest brewery in the UK and makes some of the world’s top-selling beers including Budweiser and Stella Artois.
Ambassador Sherriff said: “It’s exciting to be in South Wales as part of this first-of-its-kind roadshow – going the extra mile to develop relationships that will help us supercharge growth to every corner of the UK.
“We’re hitting the road to speak directly to community leaders and businesses, so that not a single opportunity is missed to generate trade and investment wins overseas.
“The UK Government’s Plan for Change is making Britain the best country to do business with, and I am looking forward to building on today’s roadshow discussions to showcase Wales on the international stage.”
The regional roadshow builds on a keynote Foreign Secretary speech at the British Chambers of Commerce earlier this year laying out the UK Government’s mission to drive economic growth by using the FCDO’s international networks to represent the interests of British businesses and consumers overseas.
Ambassador Sherriff will use her roadshow visit to build on figures which show total trade between UK and Belgium was £60.7 billion in 2024, and total investment stock from Belgium stands at close to £50 billion – with many Welsh companies benefiting.
Belgian brewer AB Inbev and its UK branch Budweiser UK&I own, operate and invest in the brewery at Magor, Wales, providing hundreds of local jobs.
Syensqo, a Belgian advanced materials multinational, is present in Wrexham, where it develops and produces advanced composites, mainly for aerospace applications.
Belgian group What’s Cooking employs around 400 people in the production of ready-made meals in Deeside.
And United Petfoods continues to invest in production and packaging of pet food in Llangadog, Carmarthenshire.
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Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK
Jamie Nemeth