UK appoints new HM Trade Commissioner to lead UK-China & Hong Kong trade and investment relationship
The Department for Business and Trade has appointed Lewis Neal as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for China & Hong Kong
- Lewis Neal appointed as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China & Hong Kong
- With total UK-China & Hong Kong trade worth more than £137 billion, the region offers huge potential for UK businesses
- Lewis joins department’s team of nine HM Trade Commissioners encouraging UK trade and investment and promoting Global Britain across the world
The UK’s Department for Business and Trade has today [18th September] appointed Lewis Neal as the new HMTC for China & Hong Kong. The appointment comes after UK Minister for Investment Lord Dominic Johnson visited Beijing to open the UK pavilion at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).
As the new Trade Commissioner for China & Hong Kong, Lewis’ priorities will be to secure inward investment in sectors such as low carbon, automotive and financial services, remove market access barriers that hinder UK-China & Hong Kong exports, increase the exports to the region and make the UK the educational system of choice for China & Hong Kong.
Prior to joining the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, Lewis was Director for Economic Diplomacy at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Lewis brings a wealth and breadth of experience across economic, trade and security issues and has worked across key sectors for UK-China & Hong Kong trade such as financial services, infrastructure, and international regulatory issues.
Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, said:
Our network of HMTCs bang the drum for Britain across the world, promoting UK trade, investment, and export finance.
I am delighted to welcome Lewis to this role and am confident he will build on our outstanding track record on trade in China and Hong Kong, expanding opportunities for British businesses in one of the world’s fastest growing markets.
The UK has a significant trade and investment relationship with China & Hong Kong, with more than £137bn of trade over the twelve months to the end of March 2023, making the region equivalent to the UK’s 3rd largest trading partner.
HMTCs represent and promote the UK in important markets across the world, leading on export promotion, inward and outward investment, and trade policy overseas on behalf of the UK government. Their work includes developing and delivering a regional trade plan setting out the Department for Business and Trade’s priorities in important global markets.
HM Trade Commissioner for China & Hong Kong, Lewis Neal, said:
I am excited to be joining the Embassy in Beijing and the UK’s China and Hong Kong network.
With recent visits from the Foreign Secretary and Minster of State for Investment for the first time in several years, my priority is to keep that momentum going by continuing to support growth for both UK businesses as well as Chinese and Hong Kong investors in key sectors in the UK.
There are great potential areas of UK strength including: education, low carbon, automotive sector, financial services, and health sectors where we can deepen trade and collaboration to deliver greater economic security and prosperity and global challenges such as climate change.