Industry Leaders Unite To Unlock SME Export Potential With New E-Commerce Trade Commission

The Commission - made up of leading industry experts – is the first of its kind and will act as an advisory group directly to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

The aim of the Commission is to help UK small businesses – which form the backbone of the economy - to take advantage of e-commerce trade opportunities.

The Commission has been brought together by the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT), the leading membership body for businesses and individuals which trade internationally, and will be chaired by its Director General, Marco Forgione.

The IOE&IT led commission brings together some of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms, with board members including Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, Google and Shopify. The Commission also includes the Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and Association of International Courier & Express Services (AICES).

The Commission will officially launch with an inaugural board meeting at County Hall, London on June 13th. The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for Business & Trade will attend to give a keynote speech and speak first-hand with business leaders on how to best support UK businesses to take advantage of e-commerce export opportunities.

The Secretary of State will be accompanied by newly appointed Exports Minister Lord Offord who will be making his first public speaking appearance in his new role.

Commission Chair and Director General of the IOE&IT Marco Forgione said: “The E-commerce Trade Commission is a unique opportunity to make positive changes that truly support small British businesses and comes at an important time for the UK.

“Buying goods online has fast become the norm for consumers and UK businesses have the opportunity to take advantage of new trade agreements being signed by the government which have specific provisions, included those relating to e-commerce. The level of support we have seen for the Commission, both from industry and from the Department for Business and Trade, is a reflection of the shared determination to support businesses across the UK access global markets. I am excited about what we, together, can accomplish with the Commission over the next two years to produce business-focused policy recommendations which will have a real impact on UK retailers of all sizes.”

Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for Business & Trade Business commented: “E-commerce makes an important and growing contribution to our economy: people up and down the country buy goods online every single day, supporting British businesses to sell around the globe.

“I’m pleased to welcome the new E-Commerce Trade Commission, which will bring government and some of the world’s largest platforms together to help businesses do even more trade online.”