Opportunities in overseas markets

Explore opportunities in International Markets through Trade Missions and Events

Attending Trade Missions, delegation visits from overseas embassies, and events are effective ways to support those looking for trade opportunities. RIBA works collaboratively with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to promote these trade missions and events and provide regular information to its members, regarding accessing international opportunities.

A trade mission is an organised visit to a country or region by a group of companies, usually set up by a government department, trade federation or similar organisation.

Most missions are a busy and varied programme of meetings, site visits, and networking socials with various local organisations. These can range from local businesses, distributors, and professional services to government departments, regional trade bodies and local consular staff.

Find out more about DBT's calendar of events and Trade Missions.

Recent Trade Missions

• UK Infrastructure Trade Mission to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Almaty Kazakhstan and Tashkent Uzbekistan, 20 to 26 February 2025. A post event page, highlighting RIBA's involvement which will be published soon after the Trade Mission.
• UK - India Low Carbon Built Environment Trade Mission 2025, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, originally scheduled in February, this has been postponed to March

Past Trade Missions

• UK Architecture Trade Mission to Georgia
• RIBA at Cityscape Global 2024
• RIBA at Cityscape Global 2023
• UK Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia targeting Index, The Hotel Show and Cityscape Global Exhibitions
• RIBA at Middle East design and build week
• RIBA DIT trade visit to Hong Kong
• RIBA at Cityscape Global 2018

Opportunities and Events organised by the UK Government overseas

• British Architecture and Engineering Exhibition organised by the British Embassy in Paris, 22 and 23 January 2025
• FCDO GREAT Architecture campaign and competition in Latin America - a visit from the winners of winners of the GREAT Architecture competition organised by the FCDO in Mexico, as part of the GREAT Architecture Campaign, which promotes British expertise in architecture and design to key audiences across Latin America

Stay updated by checking this page regularly. These opportunities will also feature once a month in the Member Update, and the Chartered Practices Newsletters. They will also be promoted via our social media channels.

Market insights and exploratory visits

RIBA’s priority markets remain the Gulf, incl. KSA, China, the USA and Europe. While we follow the lead of the UK Government in its approach to international markets, we are also looking at opportunities in other markets, such as Canada, India, South East Asia, Australia, and we aim to provide you with the necessary information for you to work in those markets.

Scoping of opportunities for RIBA as an institute and Chartered Members and Practices will be undertaken through desktop researches which can lead to exploratory visits to priority markets.

Market insights and desktop research

We are planning to look at new territories, and undertake desktop research to identify markets where there could be opportunities for RIBA as an institute and our members.

Each desktop research will identify:

1. What opportunities exist for the RIBA and our members
2. How are we going to explore them
3. Criteria to choose a market

Exploratory visits (if necessary), will include:

• Meetings with the UK Government (DBT in country team)
• Meetings with key stakeholders: looking at major development and opportunities for RIBA and for RIBA members to work
• Meetings with schools (if/when appropriate): looking at validation opportunities
• Meeting with local Institute of Architects (if/when appropriate)
• Meet the RIBA session with RIBA Members based in country
• Looking at opportunity for chapters

Outcomes of exploratory visits:

• RIBA will produce a report on the findings of exploratory visits
• Organise a roundtable with DBT and RIBA members interested in doing business in these markets
• Findings will feed into the planning of future Trade Missions with support from DBT
• Findings will feed into in-country events taking place

Spotlight on South Asia and Asia Pacific

• Over £90 billion in UK exports to the region in the 12 months to September 2024
• Region is set to drive around a quarter of global growth by 2050
• Dynamic markets including India, Singapore and Japan
• Huge potential for UK businesses

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is organising free expert-led events across the UK, between 4 and 13 March, to help you unlock your business potential for growth in well-known markets across the globe. You can learn more about this Made in the UK, sold to the Indo-Pacific: Meet the experts roadshows here.

Spotlight on India

• One of the world's fastest-growing economies
• The UK Government is relaunching talks on a Free Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty with India
• India is a top priority partner for the UK, and the UK Government wants to elevate that ambition across all aspects of the relationship
• The government will seek a deal that drives economic growth for the UK as a whole
• A deal with India, projected to be the fourth largest global importer by 2035, will provide opportunities for businesses across the UK, and drive economic growth for both countries
• A deal with India would boost trading relationship, worth £41 billion in the 12 months to September 2024, with UK exports to India worth £17 billion. The UK India investment relationship supported over 600,000 jobs across both economies (according to Grant Thornton), whilst Indian FDI projects in the UK created over 7,500 jobs in 2023/24
• By 2030, India’s middle class is estimated to be 60 million and rising, reaching a quarter of a billion by 2050
  

Markets we previously highlighted

Saudi Arabia

• Opportunities and challenges of doing business in Saudi Arabia for architects
• Market opportunities for architects in Saudi Arabia
• Workshop: Doing business in Saudi Arabia - Infrastructure and Construction

Azerbaijan

• Opportunities and challenges of doing business in Azerbaijan for architects
  

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Over the years, RIBA has signed MoUs with several Organisations and Institutes of Architects across the world. As these MoUs expire, we are reviewing them, ensuring that they are more effective and include an activity plan around areas of collaboration, with clear deliverables and a timeline.

MoUs will lead to opportunities for for RIBA members based locally, which will be highlighted as they occur.

Examples of MoUs

• MoU with the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA)
• MoU with the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
• MoU with the KSA Architecture and Design Commission (ADC)
• MoU with UAE’s Society of Engineers (SOEUAE)