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tive products and services to offer in
this market and we’re equally interested in working with tech companies based in and around our patch
who might be looking to take their
business international by investing in
the UK, so we have people here who
work to support those endeavors.
Sara: What are some big picture issues facing the UK today?
The Honorable Karen Bell:
Well, the obvious one is how we
position the UK and take forward
our international relationships in the
wake of the outcome of the EU Referendum which took place on the
23rd of June. It was a massive democratic exercise, and we had a turnout
of over 70%. 33 million Brits went
to the polls to decide whether or not
the UK should remain in the European Union, and as we all know,
the decision that emerged from the
referendum was that we should start
the process of leaving. So a very big
part in my role as Consul General
and that of my colleagues around
our diplomatic network is explaining exactly how the UK is and will
continue to be a very strong global
leader and partner particularly for the
United States.
“Our Marshall scholarship program
is one of them where we continue to
invest in the brightest of US students
who go on to pursue their post-graduate
studies in the UK”
Union — so Europe will continue
to be really important to us, but also
we are excited for the opportunities
to be an even more effective global
partner particularly for the US. There
is no bilateral relationship anywhere
on the planet that is more important
than the one that exists between the
US and the UK.
“Special Relationship” celebrated
its 70th birthday this year. The exAn awful lot of what we do now is pression was first coined by Winston
not connected with our member- Churchill 70 years ago and a big part
ship with the EU, so for in stance, of what we are trying to do is make
our membership with the UN, G7, sure the Special Relationship remains
G20, our NATO membership, we are special and relevant to a next generathe only country in the world that tion of Brits and Americans. We do
spends almost 2% of its GDP on de- that in a variety of ways. Our Marfense and also meets our UN target shall scholarship program is one of
to spend. 7% of our national income them where we continue to invest
on oversea development assistance so in the brightest of US students who
all of that will continue but equally go on to pursue their post-graduate
as we prepare to start the process for studies in the UK. We are also very
leaving the EU, we are excited by excited about the opportunities to
the opportunities of building even develop connections with the Hiscloser relationships with our partners panic community, particularly in this
outside the EU. We are not leaving part of the world. We recognize that
Europe, we are leaving the European one of the great opportunities of hav40 iF Magazine | January 2017
ing a consulate here in is that it gives
us a window on what the American
future might look like, and we’ve taken a strategic decision to engage with
that and want to be a part of it. We
want our relationship to be special
for a generation of Americans who
may not have the same family connections, as perhaps, the generation
that went before them, and we want
to continue to be the closest partner
we can be for the US.
Sara: What does Brexit mean for
Americans traveling to Europe?
The Honorable Karen Bell:
Well, most immediately it means
that your dollar goes a lot further.
The UK’s economy is in very, very
robust shape and the IMF and numerous independent bodies have
confirmed that. But you will notice
that the pound did drop by a considerable margin against the dollar
in the wake of the EU referendum.
So that means for anyone who is
thinking about doing some Holiday
shopping, now is a great time to go.