Day: September 17, 2018

UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade are partnering with global healthcare provider VAMED to showcase export opportunities for UK companies in Zambia at a supplier fair on 4 October 2018.

Companies attending the event will find out more about opportunities to supply VAMED’s Kasama Hospital project in Zambia, which will bring much-needed healthcare provision to the northern region of Zambia and improve the lives of nearly two million local residents.

Baroness Fairhead, Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, said:

The UK is at the forefront of technological innovation in healthcare, and our recently launched Export Strategy sets out how we will ensure that our world-class suppliers can thrive in a global marketplace. I am delighted that UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade are partnering with VAMED to harness UK expertise to deliver this transformational healthcare project, improving the lives of millions of people in Zambia.

John Griffin, VAMED UK, said:

Delivering world-class healthcare depends on cooperating with the leading suppliers in the field. We are delighted to team up with UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade on this supplier fair and look forward to meeting suppliers who share our passion for improving healthcare provisions to communities around the world.

Apart from its activities in Zambia, VAMED is successfully active in many other countries in Africa and around the globe where the company is providing first class health care facilities in South and Central America, the Middle East and Asia. This event will also provide attendees with insight on VAMED´s global activities.

In addition, UK companies will learn how UKEF, as the UK’s export credit agency, can boost UK exports by providing financing for major international healthcare projects, as well as helping companies access trade finance to fulfil their international ambitions.

VAMED is a global provider for hospitals and other facilities in the healthcare sector. To date it has delivered 850 projects in more than 80 countries.

When completed, the Kasama hospital will have a capacity of over 300 beds, including 48 for paediatric patients, and eight theatres, and will help the Zambian Government improve healthcare in rural areas and reduce its dependence on overseas treatment.

Event Details

• Thursday 4 October 2018 08:30 – 17:30
• St James’ Court Hotel, 54 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AF
• Free to attend
• Deadline for registration – 26 September

This event follows the recent launch of the Export Strategy, which sets out how the government will support businesses of all sizes to make the most of the opportunities presented in markets around the world.

Background

UK Export Finance

1. UK Export Finance is the UK’s export credit agency and a government department, working alongside the Department for International Trade as an integral part of its strategy and operations.
2. It exists to ensure that no viable UK export should fail for want of finance or insurance from the private market. It provides finance and insurance to help exporters win, fulfil and ensure they get paid for export contracts.
3. Sectors in which UKEF has supported exports include: aerospace, healthcare, telecommunications and transport.
4. UKEF has a regional network of 24 export finance managers supporting export businesses. Find your local representative here.
5. Find UKEF’s latest country cover positions.
6. UKEF supports exporters with a range of products that include:

• Bond insurance policy
• Bond support scheme
• Buyer & supplier credit financing facility
• Direct lending facility
• Export insurance policy
• Export refinancing facility
• Export working capital scheme
• Letter of credit guarantee scheme

About VAMED

Founded in 1982, VAMED has become the leading global provider of a full line of services for hospitals and other health care facilities. The group has implemented about 850 projects in more than 80 countries on five continents. VAMED’s portfolio ranges through project development, planning and turnkey equipment, with an option for maintenance, technical, commercial and infrastructure services to total operational management of health care facilities.

With its portfolio of services, VAMED covers the entire range of health care, from health tourism and preventive medicine including medical care and nursing to aftercare and rehabilitation. VAMED is Austria’s leading private provider of rehabilitation services and, through VAMED Vitality World, the company is also Austria’s largest operator of thermal spas and health resorts.

In the year 2017 the VAMED group was responsible for more than 18,000 staff worldwide, generating a volume of business of €1.7billion.

As part of the annual Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Japan, the Foreign Secretary will hold talks with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday, to discuss key areas of close cooperation, including our future economic partnership, security and defence, and foreign policy issues such as the Korean Peninsula.

Foreign Secretary Hunt will also meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to discuss the UK’s commitment to working with Japan during a very busy two years, which will see Japan host the G20, Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo. He will also offer condolences on the deaths and destruction caused by the recent Typhoon 21 in the Kansai area and earthquake in Hokkaido.

A spokesman for the Foreign Secretary said:

The UK and Japan are both globally engaged, democratic nations, supporters of the rules-based international system.

As the UK leaves the European Union next March, the Foreign Secretary’s talks this week will be an opportunity to deepen our close cooperation on security and defence, and further enhancing our excellent trade relationship.

During his visit to Tokyo, Foreign Secretary Hunt will also meet the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike and donate an old mobile phone to the ‘phones for Tokyo 2020’ initiative, a project launched by Tokyo 2020 to recycle old electronic devices and turn them into medals ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

The Foreign Secretary will also host a breakfast meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Eisai, one of Japan’s largest pharmaceutical companies and tour Hie Shrine, the highly respected place of worship for the people of Tokyo.

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @Jeremy_Hunt and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Seven high streets across Wales have been shortlisted in this year’s Great British High Street Awards 2018.

The awards, run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and sponsored by Visa, recognise and celebrate local achievements on our high streets and shine a light on great examples of how high streets can meet the challenges of changing consumer behaviour and a changing retail environment.

After a rigorous selection process led by a panel of independent judges, four Welsh high streets have been shortlisted in the Champion high street category, which aims to find the UK’s best high street, while three Welsh high streets have been shortlisted in the Rising Star category, which aims to find the UK’s most ambitious high streets.

The shortlisted high streets in Wales are:

Champion Award

• Holywell, Flintshire
• Welshpool, Powys
• Crickhowell, Powys
• Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire

Rising Star Award

• Cardigan, Ceredigion
• Narberth, Pembrokeshire
• Cowbridge, Glamorgan

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

This is fantastic news for all seven high streets in Wales recognised for their excellence and ambition to thrive in an increasingly competitive time.

High streets across Wales are the lifeblood of our societies, providing an opportunity for small businesses to set up shop and make a name for themselves, and for people to get together and support their communities by shopping locally.

Good luck to all of those high streets in the running in Wales, and I encourage everyone to show their support and vote for their favourite.

The 38 finalists across the UK will now battle it out in a public vote, which accounts for 30 per cent of the final scoring, and will then have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they seek to be crowned Britain’s best.

Those interested in participating in the public vote can visit www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk for more information. The winning entries for both the Champion and Rising Star categories will be announced on 15 November 2018 at an awards ceremony in London.

High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP said:

Congratulations to all 38 high streets shortlisted for this year’s Great British High Street Awards. The awards celebrate the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets and the quality of entries this year has been outstanding.

Over the next six weeks they have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they also battle it out in a public vote for the title of Britain’s best high street. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the hard work taking place on our high streets, so get voting.

For more information about the Great British High Street Awards 2018 terms and conditions and details on how to vote, visit: www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk