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www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE
German approach challenges the scale of our ambitions
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive
chiefexecutive@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
I
’ve had the privilege of travelling recently to Germany and meeting my chamber counterparts in both Nuremberg in Bavaria and Berlin in northern Germany. It’s been fascinating taking the pulse in these great cities and hearing their views of international trade. As our festive season approaches, I was told more about Nuremberg’s famous Christkindlesmarkt, which runs from 1 December until Christmas Eve. This massive market is more than just candles, bratwurst and gingerbread. It has hundreds of years of history and attracts visitors from around the globe. More than 2.5 million people visit the market in December, not far off the entire visitor numbers for Glasgow in a whole year. Nuremberg is not known as a main tourist destination, but the size and scale really made me sit back and consider Glasgow’s own levels of ambition. There was something deeper to consider though. While the British political news agenda is besotted with the implications of the Brexit negotiations, and the travails of Theresa May, Boris Johnston and the Conservative Government, the views that I heard in Germany were very different indeed. While many of the British expats that I encountered were bewildered by the decision by their fellow country folk to leave the single economic union with Europe, many German business figures were not inclined to view Britain’s decision with any sense of the sorrow or sympathy. Maybe there is an element of schadenfreude, but I believe the Germans are too
pragmatic to enjoy the UK’s discomfort over Europe. The reality for the Germans is that trade and export matters: it is a national imperative and anything that inhibits the ability to sell German products abroad should be resisted. I was told Brexit is not a big deal for German industry. They are not waiting with bated breath for a decision on how we continue trading with them. The Germans are much more interested in what is happening in China. This remains an important growth market for many of their products from Mercedes, BMWs and Volkswagens, to medical machines from the likes of Siemens, through to their precision machine tools. While the UK’s exports have been financial services and
education, the Germans are still intent on selling their industrial manufacturing prowess across Asia. From a Glasgow perspective, it is an indication that we will have to re-double our efforts to build a new framework of global trade. This is where Glasgow Chamber of Commerce plays a major part. When we venture forth from Glasgow on trade missions, we really need to have a clearer understanding of our own strengths and weaknesses, and what goods and services the rest of the world wants to buy. One of my international travelling companions
over the last two years has been our President, Neil Amner. Let me take this opportunity to thank him for all of his outstanding work. He has devoted his
time to lead our international missions representing the Chamber’s members in Italy, the United States and China. He has been a brilliant trade ambassador and representative for our city. On behalf of our members, I’d like to say “Thank you, Neil”. Meanwhile, to our members, my seasonal greetings and best wishes for a prosperous 2018.
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