International Trade International Export Hub brings global focus


Businesses in Greater Birmingham were encouraged to think global when the Department for International Trade’s Export Hub rolled into the city. The Export Hub - a 32-tonne truck that was


transformed into a one-stop export shop – came to Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce as part of a nationwide tour to promote the Government’s Exporting is GREAT campaign. Visitors had the chance to network, as well as


gain expert advice on the range of business support services offered by the Chambers. Mark Sankey, head of the DIT team at the Chamber, gave an overview of the export support available to the region’s businesses. There were also presentations from Sandra


Ready for business: Sharn Hayward Higgs, Jeanette Peters (Growth Hub), Cheryl Boxall (DiT), Mark Sankey, Sandra Cunningham and Howard Blow


Exploring untapped markets in Africa


A key trade event on one of the world’s great untapped markets – Africa – is to take place in Wolverhampton during March. The event, on 23 March at the GTG


Training and Conference Centre, Bearing Drive, Wolverhampton, will feature specialists from a number of African countries, who will speak on the theme of ‘Winning Business in African Markets’. The countries to be represented are:


Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and Uganda. The conference is being organised by the


Department for International Trade (DIT), who believe Africa has vast potential for trade. Mark Sankey, head of the Chamber-based


Solihull and Birmingham DIT team, said: “Africa’s consumer facing industries are expected to grow by more than £260 billion by 2020. Increasing urbanisation and technological advances mean the continent has coped well with low oil prices and the aftermath of the Arab spring. “British companies are in a unique


position to tap into this market, ‘Brand Britain’ is held in high regard and products from the UK are considered symbols of quality, tradition and style.” At this event, company representatives


will be able to meet international trade advisers and learn about opportunities in these six markets. Following this event, the Uganda


Convention-UK and the Uganda High Commission will be holding an investment and export promotion conference at West Bromwich Albion, on 9 May.


32 CHAMBERLINK March 2017


Cunningham of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Growth Hub, Sharn Hayward Higgs of Manufacturing for Growth and GBCC sales manager Howard Blow.


Mark Sankey said: “It was fantastic to see so


many businesses visit the Export Hub earlier this week, keen to find out about business support and opportunities overseas. “There are many reasons why companies large


and small should be looking to export. Trading abroad can boost your profile, credibility and bottom line, to mention a few. “But also getting advice and support to scale


up for the demands of selling overseas is important. Our event showed the wealth of support that DIT, GBSLEP Growth Hub and the Chamber advisers can bring, working together to support businesses to grow overseas.”


For more information on how the GBCC’s International Business Hub can help your business with international trade, contact us on 0121 450 4205 or email: ibh@birmingham-chamber.com


Bursa visit set to boost the Chamber’s international ties


Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has further strengthened its international ties after welcoming representatives from Bursa – one of Turkey’s key industrial cities. The meeting saw GBCC sign a Memorandum


of Understanding with Bursa TSO - Bursa’s Chamber of Commerce – which will see the two organisations collaborate in the future. Bursa is one of the largest cities in Turkey and


has a number of similarities with Birmingham, notably in the strength of its automotive, manufacturing, textile and food sectors. The delegation from Bursa TSO were given an


overview of GBCC’s history, organisational structure and the services it provides by chairman David Waller and chief executive Paul Faulkner. This was followed by a presentation from


Marketing Birmingham’s head of business attraction David Fisken, who talked about the economic transformation taking place in the Second City. The visiting delegation’s presentation offered a glimpse of some of the exciting investments taking place in Bursa, including the high-tech TEKNOSAB project. Paul Faulkner said: “We were delighted to


welcome representatives from Bursa Chamber of Commerce to Birmingham.


Enterprise Europe Network has launched further events in its new initiative for the food and drink sector, Tour d’Europe. The aim of Tour d’Europe is to connect buyers


and producers operating in the European food and drink sector. Past events have been successfully held in


Working together (from left): Dr Yusuf Ulcay, David Waller, Paul Faulkner and Cuneyt Sener


“The operative phrase from the meeting was


the ‘synergy’ between the two cities and this provides plenty of scope for the two Chambers to work together going forward. “Birmingham and Bursa are two cities that are in


the midst of exciting transformations.Through our new found relationship and our links with GBCC patrons Turkish Airlines we look forward to working together and establishing new connections between businesses from our respective regions.”


Take a tour of Europe’s food and drink sector


Rotterdam and Stockholm, and EEN is now organising two more, in Palermo, southern Italy, and a second visit to the Swedish capital. Both will give buyers the opportunity to meet


food and drink producers from all over Europe. The Palermo event is on 7 April, and Stockholm on 31 May.


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