UK seeks to break down digital trade barriers
September 20, 2021, 9:27 am

UK seeks to break down digital trade barriers

Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The Zephyrnet reported according to Reuters, the country’s newly appointed trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan will say on Monday, Britain will look to break down digital trade barriers to help its businesses export their services.

Britain’s Department for International Trade last week published a report seeking to predict trends in global trade out to 2050 which forecast that demand for digital services will double in the next decade.

“All of us depend on digital trade, yet British businesses face digital barriers in countries who take a protectionist approach,” Trevelyan will say in a virtual speech to London Tech Week, according to advanced extracts released by her office.

“I want the UK to break down these barriers and open up new, exciting opportunities for businesses and consumers so we can see improved productivity, jobs and growth.”

Trade deals typically focus on removing goods trade barriers, but since leaving the European Union, Britain has sought to include agreements on digital trade and common standards in professional services to spur service sector growth.

Trevelyan will use her first speech since taking up the role last week to set out the department’s plan to try to shape international digital policy. This will include establishing cooperation on digital trade via free trade agreements.

Enhanced consumer and intellectual property protections and promoting the development of digital trading systems such as e-contracting are also among the plans Trevelyan will set out.

The department, which said the digital sector contributed 150.6 billion pounds to the UK economy in 2019 and employed 4.6% of the national workforce, also wants to make it simpler and cheaper for businesses which use data to trade internationally by advocating free and trusted cross-border data flows.

Source: zephyrnet

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”