Helping British Businesses from Istanbul to Bishkek to Moscow and beyond

In the Palm Court of the British Consulate-General in Istanbul, staff are gathered from British Embassies in eight South Caucasus and Central Asian countries¹ ranging from Georgia in the west to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in the east.  Trade and Investment specialists from the British Embassy in Moscow and from UK Trade and Investment in London as well as UKTI and prosperity teams from the British Embassy in Ankara and the Consulate-General in Istanbul itself are also present.

The reason we’re here is to launch a new phase of intensified cooperation between UK Trade and Investment staff in Turkey and the missions in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.  Many Turkish businesses are active in the region.  The frequency of flight connections with Istanbul, the resources available to the Turkey network and the need to maximise the quality of support offered to British businesses wanting to work throughout the region means it makes sense to look at closer cooperation.

Whether that support comes direct from London, from posts in the region, from Moscow, Istanbul or Ankara is secondary:  what matters is making sure we provide the best service we can.

By the end of our discussion it’s keen there’s a thirst in all our missions to do more to promote British business and commercial activity across the region.  Watch this space to see how that develops in the months ahead.

¹ For non-specialists, these are Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.