The techUK podcast: Discussions on TradeTech

In this podcast, techUK focuses on the highly complex challenge for businesses and policymakers to develop the digitalisation of cross-border trade via TradeTech’s innovations in supply-chain mapping, to digitalisation of certifications and authorisations. Indeed, as Sally and Sabina discuss, deploying these technological procedures will vastly help and improve SME’s accessibility to trading across borders, while playing a key role in sustainability by removing physical/paper-based documentation. The key themes our speakers cover include;

• EY’s initial inspiration to produce the Report
• Explanations and examples of TradeTech
• How can Digital Tech Companies push for greater international cooperation on key policymaking developments in TradeTech?
• What are the positive progressions that are currently taking place in TradeTech?

Following techUK’s Digital Trade Campaign Week in 2023, TradeTech is becoming a key area of debate for business leaders, policymakers, and academics as they tackle questions related to trading goods across borders, and the role of innovative technology’s including AI/ML, Single Trading Platforms, and Smart Data-flows in alleviating costly and time-consuming bureaucracy. Policymakers have also started expanding strategy and ideas-formation around best approaches to regulatory and facilitation policy, ensuring innovation and competition within this area takes place. A good example of this is the World Trade Organisation’s recent Report, ‘The promise of TradeTech Policy approaches to harness trade digitalisation’.

A link to EY's Report can be found here.

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Authors

Sabina Ciofu

International Policy and Strategy Lead, techUK, techUK

Sabina Ciofu is International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Programme. Based in Brussels, she shapes global tech policy, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf region. She drives strategy, advocacy, and market opportunities for UK tech companies worldwide, ensuring their voice is heard in international policy debates.

With nearly a decade of previous experience as a Policy Advisor in the European Parliament, Sabina brings deep expertise in tech regulation, trade policy, and EU–US relations. Her work focuses on navigating and influencing the global digital economy to deliver real impact for members.

A passionate community-builder, Sabina co-founded Young Professionals in Digital Policy (800+ members) and now runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy (more experience, better wine, earlier nights). She is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club, a network of 500+ women supporting each other with kindness.

She holds advisory roles with the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club for women.

Recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of the most influential women in UK tech, Sabina is also a sought-after public speaker on tech, trade and diversity.

Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.

She is a frequent traveler and a marathon runner.

Email:

[email protected]

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Sally Jones

EY UK Trade Strategy and Brexit Leader, EY

Sally leads the EY Trade Strategy and Brexit team. She is a leading specialist in trade policy from both a global and UK/EU perspective.

She advises organisations across multiple industries including FTSE 100, Fortune 500, privately owned companies and trade associations. She also has frequent contact with the UK Government and the EU Commission. 

Sally holds a BSc in Astronomy and Astrophysics from University College London.

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