The election of Donald Trump and the prospect of tariffs show that the mission of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade does not change after a “landmark year” for the charity, members were told today (3 December) at its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
At the AGM, members voted to re-elect Lord Stephen Green of Hurstpierpoint as honorary president, with Jale Cairney and Scott Parker were voted onto the board as trustee-directors.
This is the first AGM hosted since the Institute received Chartered status from His Majesty King Charles III earlier this year.
‘Profound, relevant and vital’
Lord Green said that recent political events, including the recent re-election of Donald Trump as president of the US, put trade “firmly at the centre of the political and news agenda”:
“As the Chartered Institute prepares to enter its 90th year, its position as an organisation advocating for the benefits and value of international trade has truly never been more profound, relevant and vital,” he said.
Achievements
Chairman Terry Scuoler CBE gave his annual report, noting the success of attaining Chartered status as well as the importance of the E-Commerce Trade Commission, which the Institute convenes, and the Institute’s growing profile in national and international media. He also cited the body’s work across the UK’s nations and regions.
“The Royal Charter is a mark of the trust placed in the Institute to empower global trade and a recognition of its success and growth in recent years.”
Honorary treasurer, Jayakumar Venkataraman, who took up the position in January 2024, presented a set of “solid” financial results which he said stood as “firm testament to the hard work of the entire Chartered Institute team over the past year.”
‘Landmark’ year and beyond
Director general Marco Forgione said 2024 was a landmark year for the Chartered Institute, but said that its “mission doesn’t stop here”.
“The rules-based order of international trade that we have known for the last few decades is about to again be tested.
“Not only by the incoming president in the US and his pledges around tariffs, but by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the continued effects of inflation, the increasing impact of climate change, and the ongoing effects of new technologies and innovations such as supply chain digitalisation and AI.”
Noting that 2025 will be the 90th anniversary of the Chartered Institute, Forgione said next year will be about celebrating its members as the “the lifeblood of our longevity and future”.
“In our 90th year, let us not be embarrassed to celebrate, argue for and to empower trade, because it is international trade that will enable us to meet the challenges of the coming years and beyond.”
TRADE
He used a mnemonic to argue for five key missions for the Institute going into 2025:
· Trust – building trust in a new model for trade
· Reach – evangelising the benefits of trade to all parts of the UK and world
· Advocacy – representing members in the body’s interactions with government
· Develop – enhancing services that help businesses to trade
· Expertise – equipping business and individuals with knowledge and skills