The headline event this week is the Institute of Export & International Trade’s (IOE&IT) annual graduation celebration this Thursday (19 October) at Mansion House in the City of London.
IOE&IT graduates are invited to our prestigious Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony, where they formally receive their degrees, certificates and awards. This year’s event is presided over by City of London lord mayor Nicholas Lyons and other international trade luminaries.
The IOE&IT Daily Update will bring you all the details of the ceremony on Friday (20 October), so stay tuned.
Westminster: Parliament is back again as the conference recess officially ends today (16 October), although the Scottish National Party is still in the midst of its own gathering.
Aside from a return to prime minister’s questions, the House of Lords’ International Agreements Committee hears evidence on the UK’s accession to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) tomorrow (17 October) and exports minister Lord Offord gives an update on the Draft Retained EU Law bill.
On the political front, the Conservatives are defending two by-elections this Thursday in Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth, with the results expected early in the morning on Friday.
Lunchtime Learning: For IOE&IT members, our Lunchtime Learning series is carrying on this Thursday, as customs expert Lyn Dewsbury explains the pros and cons of customs warehouses.
Members can sign up here.
China GDP: Wednesday (18 October) will see the release of numerous pieces of economic data from China. Markets are waiting to see if the official statistics show a continued decline in China’s GDP or evidence of a renewal.
Also, Chinese president Xi Jinping meets his Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, being held tomorrow and Wednesday.
Middle East: After last week’s outbreak of violence in Israel, the world is waiting to see what happens next. As reported previously by the Daily Update, the attack on Israel by Hamas caused energy markets to spike.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak will host the King of Jordan in Downing Street later today, with more diplomatic manoeuvring expected later in the week.
Argentine elections: One of Latin America’s largest economies goes to the polls this Sunday (22 October), as Argentina hosts the first round of presidential elections. Libertarian Javier Milei is predicted to come first, followed by either economy minister Sergio Massa or conservative opposition candidate Patricia Bullrich.
In order to avoid a run-off, a candidate has to win more than 45% of votes or more than 40% with a more than 10-point lead over the second-place candidate. Otherwise, a final round will be held 19 November.
Other dates for the diary:
Monday: World Food Day and beginning of World Coffee Week
Tuesday: Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf delivers SNP conference speech
Wednesday: UK inflation data for September
Thursday: Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth by-elections
Friday: US president Joe Biden hosts US-EU summit
Saturday: Double billing in sport with the rugby and cricket world cup semi-finals
Sunday: Triple election header, with federal elections in Switzerland, the opposition presidential primary race in Venezuela and Argentina’s presidential elections