⁦Ed Balls kicks off the ⁦Scottish Financial Enterprise⁩ Annual Awards Dinner 2023. This event is always a highlight of the calendar. All the more important this year for showcasing the new growth strategy for the industry in Scotland.

Delighted Bim Afolami has joined HM Treasury as Economic Secretary. He’s very thoughtful about how our industry can drive growth across the UK and the best regulatory balance to support that. Big supporter of future talent too. Looking forward to working with him in his new role.

I am in the US this week meeting with key stakeholders and members in Washington DC and New York to strengthen ties between 🇬🇧 and 🇺🇸financial and related professional services industries.

Great to have joined ⁦Kemi Badenoch⁩ and business leaders from around the world at Lancaster House this evening for the launch of the Global Investment Summit. The UK is a magnet for investment and talent and the GIS will be an important opportunity to showcase that.

Very saddened to hear of the death of Alistair Darling. It was he who commissioned Sir Win Bischoff’s report that helped lead to the creation of TheCityUK He even chose the name. A strong supporter of the positive role of our industry. Our thoughts are with his family.

To mark St. Andrew’s Day Sandy Begbie CBE & Miles Celic have penned an op-ed in City A.M. celebrating the ties between financial services in Scotland and London, and discussing how our long-standing relationship with The City can drive growth. Read on page 17: edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/p…

Delighted to be in #Berlin for our 🇬🇧🇩🇪financial services dialogue meeting and be joined by the dialogue’s new co-chair Katharine Braddick of Barclays Bank and our partners Frankfurt Main Finance City of London to explore opportunities for collaboration between our industries. Miles Celic

An excellent appointment in an important role at a critical time. Very much looking forward to working with @racheljanekent in her new position.

Commenting on today’s Scottish government budget, Sandy Begbie CBE, Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said:

An important point here from Scottish Financial Enterprise Worth keeping in mind that international financial centres compete on tax rates, but also on tax code complexity. The most successful tend to have streamlined and easy to navigate tax systems.

Great to join lunch with ⁦Jeremy Hunt⁩ in Bern, hosted by ⁦James Squire⁩ ahead of the signing of 🇬🇧 -🇨🇭 MRA. A landmark achievement. Credit to ⁦HM Treasury⁩, our partners ⁦economiesuisse⁩ and our Swiss Market Group led by Joe Cassidy of ⁦KPMG UK⁩

Great to witness the signing of the ground-breaking UK & Swiss Mutual Recognition Agreement on Financial Services, led by Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt and Head of the Federal Department of Finance Karin Keller-Sutter. (1/2) HM Treasury EFD_DFF SIF_SFI

Lots of food for thought in this Cebr report. Plenty of reasons to be optimistic - but not complacent - over the UK’s long-term prospects, one of which is the ongoing strength and innovation in the world class financial and related professional services ecosystem here.

A very constructive visit to Hong Kong. Great to catch up with valued partners at Financial Services Development Council and World Alliance of International Financial Centers and to hold useful meetings with the authorities and businesses to discuss links with 🇬🇧. The energy and ambition in HK is always impressive. Now to Shanghai for more discussions

We’re proud to be involved in this MoU. TheCity-Ukraine Hub will create a foundation for a deep and growing partnership between the British and Ukrainian FRPS industries. Huge potential. Thanks to all those involved including Мінекономіки Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office UK in Ukraine 🇬🇧🇺🇦 and many more

"Any investor around the world is looking for the certainty of the business environment and in order to create that there are some practical things that can be done: 🔹 Investor Protection 🔹 Dispute Resolution 🔹 Global Alignment of Regulations 🔹 Aligning to International

"Nigeria is an important growth market for the UK-based financial and related professional services industry, and we welcome the signing of the new ETIP." - Nicola Watkinson, Managing Director of International #TheCityUK

Encouraging figures from UN agency UN Trade and Development - UK is now 4th largest exporter of goods and services. Much of this is built on the strong performance of UK FRPS. We remain the largest net exporter of FS in the world, and 2nd largest exporter of services generally, behind only the US

When TheCityUK held its first conference in Manchester, Sir Howard spoke at the opening dinner. His passion and ambition for the city was inspirational. He had worked via partnership and determination to deliver for its citizens. A rejuvenated Manchester is his greatest legacy.

Delighted to give my first ministerial speech this morning at the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce conference at the London Stock Exchange. I spoke about the Pensions Review which I am leading.