LONDON - Britain has created nine HM Trade Commissioner roles to represent the country in key trade markets abroad, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox announced on Monday.

The nine geographical areas that the HM Trade Commissioners will cover include Africa, the Asia-Pacific, China, the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Network (EECAN), Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and South America.

"The HM Trade Commissioners, one of the government's manifesto commitments, will play a vital role as the UK leaves the European Union and takes its place as a global champion of free trade in charge of its own independent trade policy," said a spokesman for the Department for International Trade (DIT) in London.

"The HM Trade Commissioners will head the global operations of DIT, leading on export promotion, inward and outward direct investment, and trade policy overseas on behalf of the UK government," the spokesman added.

"This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to represent the UK in key markets around the world. We will be seeking the brightest and the best, from both the public and private sectors to use their extensive regional and in-country knowledge, together with their business and government expertise to help build a global Britain," Fox said.

"The new HM Trade Commissioners will be providing a clear vision and direction to my department's global operations. That will require providing intelligence on the ground, deciding what tailored action is required in their region, and playing a vital role in our future global trading relationships," he added.