Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy
A Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy is a position in British foreign policy, within the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) government department.[1]
Trade Envoys are appointed by the Prime Minister in order to promote British business and trade interests abroad. The Special Representative for International Trade and Investment is a currently dormant position previously held by a member of the British Royal Family, who had the responsibility of representing the Sovereign for trade purposes. Following the 2012 Cabinet reshuffle, Ken Clarke was made a roving trade envoy, focusing on promoting British expertise to emerging economies, in particular China and Brazil.[2]
Between September 2012 and November 2013, Lord Marland served as the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy. Upon his suggestion, and in collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the post was expanded in November 2012, when David Cameron announced the creation of eight new trade envoys to selected high-growth and developing markets.[3] Additional representatives of the British government were appointed in March 2014 due to the success of the initial program.[4]
Current envoys
- Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, Trade Envoy to Mexico
- Richard Graham MP, Trade Envoy to Indonesia
- David Heath MP, Trade Envoy to Nigeria and Angola
- Charles Hendry MP, Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
- Lord Hollock, Trade Envoy to Tanzania and Kenya
- Lord Janvrin, Trade Envoy to Turkey
- Barbara, Lady Judge, Business Ambassador
- Lord King, Trade Envoy to Saudi Arabia
- Baroness Morris of Bolton, Trade Envoy to Jordan, Kuwait, Palestinian Territories
- Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, Trade Envoy to Iraq
- Mark Prisk MP, Investment Envoy to the Nordics and Baltics
- Lord Puttnam, Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
- Lord Risby, Trade Envoy to Algeria
- Baroness Scotland of Asthal, Trade Envoy to South Africa
- Lord Sharman, Trade Envoy to Morocco