👀 Welcome to our Campaign Week
With around half of the world running elections in 2024 (64 countries plus the European Union) there could be some serious implications for trade policy and business, and the results of certain elections could have significant impacts both on a regional level and a global level.
Between the 6-10 May, we will be exploring the potential implications of elections and their impact on geopolitics and global trade. Through blogs, case studies, and videos publicised across our website and social media are aiming to help inform and open discussion around key trends or implications from the elections of 2024.
🌟 The Themes of the Week
Monday: The Global Outlook
What does 2024 bring? Is 2024 a year of status quo for geopolitical continuation or do the winds of change beckon to global voters? On Monday we aim to explore the broad mood and prospects that elections this year might bring in relation to geopolitics, trade, and business. This day will be a great opportunity to also highlight any underreported elections across the Americas or Africa or any other part of the globe that might be missed by the rest of our campaign week.
Tuesday: The US Election
With Democratic and Republican primary results coming in the presidential election cycle is in full swing with many expecting a divisive campaign. The world will be holding its breath on the 5 November, as who might win will have seriously divergent implications for US foreign and trade policy.
Wednesday: Elections in Europe
From Lisbon to Helsinki, Bucharest to Brussels there are a variety of presidential, parliamentary, regional, and local elections happening across the nations of Europe. In addition to these, the whole of the European Union will be going to the polls in June to elect a new European Parliament - the very first since Brexit. With the EU taking an increasingly significant role in geopolitics, including the geopolitics of techhnology, this will be an important election for the tech industry to observe.
Thursday: Elections across Asia
There are well over a billion registered voters due to be casting their ballots in elections across Asia this year. Though much of the results are across the contientent look to involve the relecection of incumbents and continuation more than change, the size of such majorities could influence the ability for reforming governments to implement their policies, and surprise results could switch diplomatic and economic trajectories unexpectedly.
Friday: The UK - What world does the next Government find itself in?
After a week of discussing elections across the globe, we come back to the UK to wonder what world might the next Government find itself in, and how might that affect the UK's position geopolitically and in terms of international trade policy. The results of certain elections could put Britain in a tough position in trying to expand its post-Brexit free trade agreements, or vice versa results could ease Britain's mission to find its geopolitical position in a post-Brexit era, challenged by an increasingly dangerous world. What challenges do you think the UK will find itself facing? Could the 2024 elections put the next government in a more favourable position in 2025? How might this impact industry and business?
📝 The Campaign Blogs & Insights
We invited members to contribute to this week-long campaign with blogs to spark a discussion on key issues like the potential impact of various elections worldwide on geopolitical dynamics, trade policies, and the broader global outlook, with a focus on identifying trends, potential outcomes, and implications for businesses and industries.
🌎 More Trade Events & Opportunities
Beyond our Campaign Week, find out what activity our International Policy and Trade programme is working on
UK Export Academy: Get your business ready for Singapore with techUK; 29 May
Join techUK and the DBT’s Export Academy for an insightful event with on growing your services, innovation-led, or technology business in Singapore. Explore the UK-Singapore trading relationship, uncover market opportunities, and gain expert advice on market entry strategies. Whether you're a seasoned exporter or new to international markets, this event provides practical insights for success in Singapore's dynamic business landscape.
UK-Japan Tech Forum 2024, 31 May
The UK Japan Tech Forum, convened by JEITA and techUK, has provided a single voice for the tech sector in shaping this tech alliance and ensuring real world outcomes. Following the signing of the Hiroshima Accord, the Forum will review progress, government priorities, and industry involvement, while also exploring opportunities for further UK-Japan collaboration leading up to Osaka 2025's emphasis on Japan's tech and innovation leadership.
techUK Member-only Delegation to Washington DC, 11-13 June
techUK is excited to announce a delegation to Washington DC, offering a unique opportunity to engage with key officials, agencies, and stakeholders before the US election. Gain insights into the US market, entry barriers, business journey, regulatory environment, and UK-US cooperation. Join us here for this members-only experience!
UK-APAC Tech Forum | London Tech Week Event; 13 June
Join us on the 13 June 2024 for our first UK-APAC Tech Forum of the year. The event will take place during London Tech Week as a partner event. Focused on Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and the ASEAN countries, the Forum provides engagement opportunities with key stakeholders in government and business to , address barriers to digital market access and expand coup mmercial networks in the region. We will be joined by the Malaysian Minister for Digital, Gobind Singh Deo, for a fireside chat. More information on speakers and panels will be available in due course.
UK-India Tech Forum | London Tech Week
Join us during London Tech Week our biannual UK-India Tech Forum. 2024 is a huge year for the UK-India bilateral, with elections taking place in both countries and an FTA being negotiated, there is plenty to be discussed. The Forum will be chaired by Lord Kulveer Ranger of Northwood. The Forum will cover four main areas: elections and the UK-India relationship, potential UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and business expectations, practical aspects of entering the Indian market for UK tech firms, and collaborative opportunities in emerging technologies like semiconductors, space tech, and quantum computing. The event will culminate in a Parliamentary Roundtable in late June.
🫵 Get involved
For more information please contact:
Sabina Ciofu
Sabina Ciofu
Sabina Ciofu is Associate Director – International, running the International Policy and Trade Programme at techUK.
Based in Brussels, she leads our EU policy and engagement. She is also our lead on international trade policy, with a focus on digital trade chapter in FTAs, regulatory cooperation as well as broader engagement with the G7, G20, WTO and OECD.
As a transatlanticist at heart, Sabina is a GMF Marshall Memorial fellow and issue-lead on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, within DigitalEurope.
Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor to a Member of the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations.
Sabina loves building communities and bringing people together. She is the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club and co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy. Previously, as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, she led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects.
She sits on the Advisory Board of the University College London European Institute, Café Transatlantique, a network of women in transatlantic technology policy and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club designed for women.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +32 473 323 280
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
Daniel Clarke
Daniel Clarke
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Oliver Alderson
Oliver Alderson
Oliver is the team assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs teams, joining techUK in November of 2023. He assists the teams admistrative support, communication, and event production.
Prior to working at techUK, Oliver studied at Swansea and Bristol universities, attaining a masters in Policy Research. During this time he competed in debating competitions around the country where he discussed and deliberated various policy issues. Between his studies Oliver acted as a student assistant in mental health research for the SMaRteN student network.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 07505 890 596
- LinkedIn:
- https://uk.linkedin.com/in/oliver-alderson-a51312180