38 . Glasgow Business December 2016
WE’RE EXPORT EXPERTS
Glasgow’s international trade is a booming business W
hile political pundits and economic commentators have writen thousands of column inches on the ramifications of
Brexit on the UK’s trading position with the rest of the world, the only concrete fact we know at present is that businesses are continuing to export. Tis is confirmed by Glasgow Chamber’s
International Certification Department, which helps and advises companies with their export documentation to countries around the world. Deputy Chief Executive Richard Muir said:
“Te team is very busy at the moment as we’re processing a lot of export documents on behalf of companies trading with overseas, particularly to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Latvia, and South America. “Of course, it’s still too early to call on what
Brexit means to UK trade but, clearly with a weaker sterling, exporters are in a stronger position at the moment to be doing more business. So, in the meantime, it’s business as usual, and I don’t think there is a beter time to start exploring new export opportunities.” Developing international trade is in Glasgow
Chamber’s DNA, and it’s interesting to see the parallels with the potential Brexit situation and how the Chamber came into being in 1783. Te
entrepreneurs of the day traded in tobacco from Virginia on the east coast of America and by the 1770s three-quarters of all tobacco consumed in Europe was imported by merchants in Glasgow. However, the War of Independence during 1775–1783 stopped this lucrative trade so the Glasgow merchants decided to pool their resources and find new markets elsewhere. More than 230 years later, there are Chambers
of Commerce all around the world and this provides a valuable network of contacts to draw on to help develop business links. Glasgow Chamber is developing these links
further through innovative partnerships, such as Memoranda of Understanding with other chambers, like the recent agreement signed with Manhatan Chamber. Richard said: “Tis is a bold and exciting step
to help members build up networks and we’ve just taken a number of companies out to New York to meet with 30 members of Manhatan Chamber to explore opportunities in the USA. “We’ve also done a deal with the British
Chamber of Commerce in Italy, who are based in Milan, and we are planning a similar delegation in spring 2017. And there will be reciprocal delegations visiting Glasgow to meet members and explore trading possibilities.”
Glasgow Chamber plans to expand this
programme and is in discussions with Chambers in the Gulf States and Germany. It also works with Glasgow City Council –
which is twinned with eight cities around the world – as well as with Scotish Development International, to let members know about various trade missions abroad or meetings with visiting delegations. Richard added: “We’re also fortunate to be
sponsored by Clydesdale Bank, which supports our bimonthly international forums for members, and we have developed this further by taking members out to meet companies that are exporting successfully. “We’ve had visits to Andrew Muirhead &
Sons, part of the Scotish Leather Group, and Trakke, a new company that makes beautiful rucksacks and other related outdoor garments and products. Te feedback has been positive as people are curious to find out how companies have developed export markets and hear their stories to gain more confidence about doing it.” Glasgow Chamber, as an authorised ‘Agent
Chamber’, is the first port of call for exporters as it is only one of a select number of organisations in the UK to be accredited to authorise the full range of export documentation, including ATA
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