RIA joins Government Expert Trade Advisory Group

The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the national trade body for more than 290 rail suppliers, has been announced as a member of the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Transport Services Expert Trade Advisory Group, one of a number of panels that will help advise Government on the UK’s trade policy with regards to non-EU countries.

Neil Walker, Exports Director at the Railway Industry Association, said: “It is great that the Railway Industry Association has been selected to join the Department for International Trade’s Transport Services Expert Trade Advisory Group and be able to represent the views of the rail supply industry to Government.

“The coming years are a vital time for UK trade policy. Rail, which already exports some £800 million in goods and services, could play an even bigger role with the right trading environment and approach to international markets. It is essential that – as new Free Trade Agreements are negotiated – rail’s export offer is considered.

“We look forward to working with Government to ensure we continue to have a thriving, internationally-competitive UK rail industry supporting economic growth, jobs and investment, as we prepare to leave the EU.”

The Group will complement the work of the Rail Sector Deal’s Exports Pillar, which seeks to double rail’s exports performance by 2025. RIA is the delivery arm for Exports Pillar, which is led by Exports Champion Noel Travers, Managing Director of Unipart Rail. 

Notes to Editors

1. About the DIT Transport Services Expert Trade Advisory Group (ETAG): The Transport ETAG will provide a mechanism for expert engagement between government and key stakeholders in respect of transport services for matters relating to the UK’s trade policy with regards to non-EU countries.  Expert Trade Advisory Groups form part of the Department for International Trade’s policy formal engagement architecture, alongside the Strategic Trade Advisory Group (STAG). The main objective of the Transport ETAG is to provide expert, independent advice on the development and delivery of relevant elements of UK trade policy.
2. About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. We promote and represent our members’ interests to policy makers, clients and other stakeholders in the UK and overseas. RIA has 280+ companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a growing industry with the number of rail journeys expected to double over the next 25 years and freight set to grow significantly too. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry. www.riagb.org.uk