UK footprint in Asia beyond ye olde colonies

 

Climate & Sustainability

  1. ASEAN–UK Green Transition Partnership 🇸🇬 🇻🇳 🇲🇾 🇵🇭 | £40M initiative offering technical assistance and blended finance to support Southeast Asia’s shift to renewable energy, low-carbon transport, and resilient cities.

  2. Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) 🇻🇳 | UK is part of a $15.5B multilateral donor group funding Vietnam’s coal phaseout, led by UK and EU under COP26 commitments.

  3. British International Investment (BII) in Southeast Asia 🇸🇬 Hub opened 2023 | First deals include $15M to Clime Capital’s South East Asia Clean Energy Fund; supports wind, solar, and storage.

  4. UK–India Green Hydrogen Alliance 🇮🇳 | Industrial collaboration on hydrogen pilots, electrolyser supply chains, and safety standards.

  5. CARA (Climate Action for a Resilient Asia) 🌏 Regional | Supports policy capacity in South & Southeast Asian governments on climate risk integration into infrastructure and finance.

Health, Education & Research

  1. UKRI–SEA Infectious Disease Research 🇹🇭 🇲🇾 🇵🇭 🇻🇳 | £25M research funding tackling zoonotic spillover, surveillance systems, and antimicrobial resistance.

  2. Girls' Education Challenge – Asia Component 🇳🇵 🇵🇰 🇧🇩 | UK aid for inclusive education access; focuses on teachers, menstrual health, digital inclusion.

  3. Tobacco-Free Cities Implementation Trials 🇧🇩 🇻🇳 🇵🇰 | UK-funded trials with local city governments to develop enforceable smokefree zones and anti-smoking campaigns.

  4. Digital Health Innovation Hub – UK–ASEAN 🇸🇬 🇹🇭 🇲🇾 | Collaboration on AI diagnostics, interoperable health records, and pandemic early warning systems.

  5. Commonwealth Scholarships (Asia Stream) 🌏 | Ongoing capacity-building through fully funded UK study for scholars from India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and beyond.

Trade & Development

  1. CPTPP Membership (Accession 2023, Ratified 2024) 🌏 | UK joined this Asia-Pacific trade pact covering 11 countries; only European member, with tariff cuts in automotive, whisky, digital.

  2. UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) (in negotiation) 🇮🇳 | 13 rounds so far; aims to improve market access in finance, Scotch whisky, electric vehicles, and legal services.

  3. ASEAN–UK Economic Integration Programme (2023–2026) 🇮🇩 🇹🇭 🇵🇭 🇻🇳 🇲🇾 | Technical aid on customs reform, e-commerce rules, and supply chain traceability.

  4. JETCO (Joint Economic and Trade Committee) with Indonesia 🇮🇩 | Forum supporting halal exports, fintech regulation, and education tech.

  5. Enhanced Trade Partnership – UK–Philippines 🇵🇭 | Signed MoU in 2022; developing bilateral commitments in cybersecurity, clean energy, and professional mobility.

Technology, Infrastructure & Governance

  1. UK–Japan Digital Partnership 🇯🇵 | Collaboration on 5G supply chains, AI standards, and semiconductor R&D.

  2. UK–Singapore Green Economy Framework 🇸🇬 | First-of-its-kind agreement; focuses on emissions accounting, carbon trading, sustainable aviation.

  3. EGED (Effective Governance for Economic Development) 🇰🇬 🇹🇯 🇺🇿 | Central Asia | Policy reform programme on taxation, budgeting, and transparency tools.

  4. UK–India Urban Infrastructure Platform 🇮🇳 | DFI-backed fund enabling UK companies to co-finance sustainable metros, roads, and waste systems.

  5. UK–Pacific Maritime Security and Climate Support 🇫🇯 🇻🇺 🇸🇧 | Patrol boat training, disaster preparedness, and sea-level data sharing in partnership with Pacific island nations.

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