Date & Time
5 October 2023 -
12:00 pm - 8:30 pm GMT-0500
Details
Register Today
Small business stakeholders are cordially invited to attend the 7th United States-United Kingdom Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Dialogue on Thursday October 5, 2023 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. in Coachella Valley, California.
The SME Dialogue is convened by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Small Business Administration with the UK Department for Business and Trade.
The 7th U.S.-UK SME Dialogue will take place on October 5th in Indio, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California. The event is being hosted by the Cabazon band of Cahuilla Indians in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s U.S. Commercial Service, the British Embassy, and the UK Consulate in California. This marks the first time the United States will hold an SME Dialogue with a Native American Tribal host.
Topics for discussion include an update on U.S.-UK trade; SMEs and clean tech solutions in U.S.-
UK green technology trade; trade & investment opportunities and challenges for tribal, rural, and minority-owned businesses; growth opportunities in U.S.-UK services trade; and challenges SMEs face in trading in U.S. and UK markets. Attendees will be able to engage in discussion with experts as well as learn about tools and resources to grow their businesses internationally. See the draft agenda below.
Established in 2018 in Washington, D.C. and London, and convening subsequently in New York City, Bristol, Boston, and Edinburgh, the SME Dialogue is an ongoing exchange bringing small and medium businesses and stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic together with government officials to identify ways to deepen U.S.-UK trade and investment ties and strengthen cooperation on issues of mutual interest to SMEs. Trade between the two countries is about $247 billion per year, and together there is around $1 trillion invested in each other’s economies.
This invitation is for SME stakeholders from the United States and United Kingdom only. RSVPs are accepted on a first-come, first-serve space available basis. Lunch, coffee breaks and a networking reception at the conclusion of the Dialogue will be provided for SME participants. The location of the meeting and a detailed agenda will be provided to registered participants closer to the date of the event.
Time: 9:00am – 5:30pm Pacific Time
Cost: No charge to attend, but SME participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging.
RSVP for U.S. SME stakeholders: Please provide your name, title, organization and city/state to https://forms.office.com/g/kLfd60EeqN
RSVP for UK SME stakeholders: Please provide your name, title, organization and city to us-hub@trade.gov.uk
Draft Agenda
8:00 – 9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:30 – 10:00 Group Photo and Coffee Break
10:00 – 11:15 Session 1: SMEs and Clean Tech Solutions: U.S.-UK Green Technology Trade
U.S. and UK speakers will discuss export opportunities for SMEs in the green technology sector that can contribute to energy and climate solutions.
Q&A
11:15 – 12:30 Session 2: Trade & Investment Opportunities and Challenges for Tribal, Rural, and Minority-owned Businesses
U.S. and UK speakers will discuss how small businesses in underserved communities can take advantage of export resources, highlighting a small business resource guide to doing business in both markets.
Q&A
12:30 – 1:30 Networking Lunch
1:30 – 2:45 Session 3: Growth Opportunities in U.S.-UK Services Trade
U.S. and UK trade in services, such as tourism, logistics and e-commerce, offer growth opportunities for SMEs. SMEs in these sectors will share strategies and best practices.
Q&A
2:45 – 3:00 Coffee Break
3:00 – 4:15 Session 4: Challenges SMEs Face in Trading in the U.S. and UK markets
This session will provide an opportunity for SMEs to highlight barriers they face in exporting and importing to the U.S. and UK markets.
Q&A
4:15 – 4:30 Concluding Remarks
4:30 – 5:30 Closing Networking Reception
Christina Sevilla
Christina_Sevilla@ustr.eop.gov
