International Trade
International Business Hub
By Dan Harrison
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) has made a key appointment to lead its ever-expanding international operation. Mandy Haque has assumed the new role of
Sweet-toothed project: The cocoa team in Colombia
MTC project helps
cocoa farmers The Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre is playing a major role in a project to improve the lives of cocoa farmers in Colombia by helping them with quality and productivity. The two-year, million pound project is
concentrated on the improvement of farm productivity, consistency of product, quality and post-harvest processes. The aim is to improve the profitability of smallholder farmers and their families by ensuring they get a better deal from buyers, become more productive and produce better quality cocoa.
‘We want to ensure that the smallholder farmers get a better deal’
The project - named COLCO - is funded by
the UK Newton Fund which supports welfare and sustainable development through science and innovation among countries receiving official development assistance. The MTC team is looking specifically at
the bean fermentation and drying processes which are vital to the quality of the bean. MTC experts are also working with the
cocoa and chocolate supply chain to establish better quality assessment of the beans on the way to commercialisation. MTC technology manager Alejandra
Matamoros said: “We want to ensure that the smallholder farmers get a better deal, which will improve their quality of life and will have a socio-economic effect on their region and the Colombian economy as a whole. “We are not just interested in deploying
technology, we want to make sure that our impact is positive and lasting.”
40 CHAMBERLINK February 2019
International Business Hub development director, after spending 16 years in various positions at Birmingham Airport. Mandy’s 29-year career in the aviation
industry began as a customer service assistant for an airline handling agent, before she went on to work for the likes of British Airways, Air France and British Midland. After joining the airport as terminal duty manager in 2002, she held a number of different roles, including her most recent job as head of operational service delivery. Mandy already has close links with Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce through her involvement with the British American Business Council. She is vice-president of the BABC’s Midlands Chapter - which is part of the GBCC – and of the BABC globally. Paul Faulkner, chief executive of the GBCC,
said: “We are delighted to welcome Mandy to this incredibly important new role. “Through our International Business Hub, the
‘As we head in to 2019 and we edge closer to Britain’s departure from the EU, our international activities will become even more important.’
Midlands businesses involved in designing and manufacturing the transport of the future have taken part in a trade visit to a major international automotive conference. The trade visit was to the Symposium on
International Automotive Technology (SIAT) in Pune, India, and exposed businesses to the growing automotive market in India. SIAT is a global automotive expo, organised
by Automotive Research Association of India, and features keynote speakers and showcasing advances in a number of automotive subsectors. UK businesses which specialise in electric
vehicle infrastructure and electric vehicle and low carbon technologies were among those
T: 0121 450 4205 E:
ibh@birmingham-chamber.com
Key appointment brings global focus to Chamber
International role: Mandy Haque with Paul Faulkner
British American Business Council, the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce and various other initiatives, the GBCC already provides a wide array of opportunities for businesses who are looking to trade internationally. “As we head in to 2019 and we edge closer to
Britain’s departure from the EU, our international activities will become even more important. Mandy will play a central role in shaping how we deliver those existing services and deliver new products as we strive to become the go-to place for companies trading overseas.” Mandy said: “I am delighted to be joining the
GBCC to lead the international team at this exciting time. I hope to bring my knowledge and experience from aviation and transfer it to develop new initiatives for the International Business Hub, supporting businesses within our region.”
Trade visit drives automotive sector
showcasing their products and services to industry leaders, potential buyers and distributors. Ian Harrison, head of exports for the Midlands
for the Department of International Trade (DIT), said: “SIAT is widely acclaimed in the global automotive sector and represents a great opportunity for knowledge sharing and networking among some of the best minds in the industry. “The Indian passenger vehicle market is
already the fourth largest in the world. Our aim is to show Midlands businesses the demand for their services overseas and help familiarise them with growing markets such as this.”
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