International Trade
International Business Hub
Helping companies exploit overseas trade opportunities
Councillor’s agreement brings boost to region
Council leader John Clancy declared ‘Birmingham is open for business’ after signing an agreement with Chinese property development company Country Garden worth up to £2 billion to the Birmingham economy. Cllr Clancy went on a week-long trade
mission to China and Hong Kong, where he looked for big-money investors to build houses and create jobs across the city. He signed a Joint Statement of Investment
Commitment with Country Garden that will initially see the Guangdong-based company explore large scale investment opportunities in Birmingham city region area with particular focus on regeneration and investment options related to the HS2 project. The council and Country Garden will work
jointly to find areas of collaboration with regard to delivering significant new housing stock in Birmingham city and the surrounding area. Cllr Clancy said: “The landscape has
inevitably changed post-Brexit and Birmingham is already out of the starting blocks. That's why I’m here selling our city to many of China’s leading investors. “This agreement is about bringing good
jobs and quality homes to Birmingham. Country Garden have a proven track record of building homes at pace and scale. “Bringing this level of investment and
experience to Birmingham would be a massive economic boost to the region’s businesses, skills base and families. This is about building houses, jobs and futures for young Brummies and families across the region.”
Trade support finds a home in the hub
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has launched a new hub, bringing together its extensive range of international trade support services. The International Business Hub is a one-stop
shop for all importers and exporters, from established businesses to those who are considering trading for the first time. As well as being able to tap into the expertise
of international trade advisers, businesses can seek assistance with export documentation, market information and contacts, translation services and foreign currency exchange. The International Business Hub also provides
international trade training through a series of events and seminars, as well as organising market visits and exhibitions overseas. Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “We are excited to be launching the Greater Birmingham International Business Hub at the Chamber. “We currently offer a wide range of
international related services, from export support and guidance via our Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Enterprise Europe Network teams, an export documentation service, a translations team offering services in 170 languages, in addition to running the regional British American Business Council. “The new International Hub allows us to link our
services more seamlessly for local businesses. “Post-Brexit, doing business internationally
Contact an adviser: T: 0121 450 4205
Hub club: The Chamber’s International team
has never been so important, so this is the perfect time for us to refine our existing offerings and create a hub that will allow us to do more for businesses in the region.”
Hands-on visit offers insight into export
A leading figure from the new Department for International Trade (DIT) visited Birmingham to find out more about the Chamber’s delivery of trade and export services to local businesses. Greg Hands MP, the minister of state for
International relations (L-R): Allen Matty (managing director of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce LLP), Greg Hands, Christine Hamilton (acting regional director, West Midlands Department for International Trade) and Paul Faulkner
24 CHAMBERLINK October 2016
international trade, took part in a discussion with Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner and international trade advisers before meeting with local businesses who access DIT services through the Chamber’s International department. During the visit Mr Hands learned how the Chamber helped 400 companies in the Greater Birmingham area to secure more than £180m of new export business in 2015/16. Mr Hands visited Ishida Europe, a Japanese-
owned company which manufactures weighing, packaging and quality control equipment.
Approximately 65 to 70 per cent of all the machines Ishida sells to the EMEA region are manufactured in Birmingham, and in the past two years international trade advisers from the Chamber have supported the firm in exporting to Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. After attending a networking event at Barclays
– which involved banks, trade associations and other companies involved in international trade – Mr Hands visited long-standing Chamber members Moflash Signalling Ltd. Paul Faulkner said: “It was great to meet the
minster and welcome him to Birmingham for his first regional visit. “Mr Hands and his team were engaging,
passionate and optimistic about the role Birmingham and the West Midlands have to play in driving the UK’s export growth.”
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