Commonwealth Greater Birmingham
Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce Contact: Jamila Davis T: 0121 607 1826
Botswana is ideal
trading partner Businesses in Greater Birmingham can find out how Botswana has transformed itself into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies – and offers significant opportunities for bilateral trade. The Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce’s next market briefing focuses on doing business with Botswana, which has a population of just over two million people. Botswana has developed into one of the
world’s fastest-growing economies, dominated by mining, cattle and
tourism.Its high gross national income – by some estimates the fourth- largest in Africa – gives the country a relatively high standard of living. The country’s legal system is said to be sufficient enough to conduct secure commercial dealings, while the protection of intellectual property rights has also improved significantly.
Top imports into Botswana in 2017:
Trading with Cyprus (from left): Peter Mathews, Keith Stokes-Smith, president of Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, and Costas Dafos
Cyprus welcomes UK firms with open arms
A Black Country metal recycler said that he felt ‘very much at home’ trading with Cyprus, at an event highlighting the country's bilateral trading opportunities. The comments were made by Peter Mathews, chairman of Black Country Metals, who has been trading with the country for more than 30 years.
During that time, Black Country Metals has
played a leading role in helping to develop the recycling industry in Cyprus. Mr Mathews spoke about his experiences at a
Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce event, and told delegates about the ‘fantastic growth and modernisation’ that he had seen in Cyprus. He said: “I have been trading in Cyprus for
30 odd years, and I feel very much at home there. Mostly, it’s because the Cypriots and the Brits are very much part of the same family. “I have seen fantastic growth and modernisation and steadiness of the economy in Cyprus. The country is building up the educational and legal systems, the whole place is vibrant. “The legal system is based on the British
system, so it isn’t too difficult to find your way around. In fact a lot of the lawyers in Cyprus have been trained in the UK as well as Cyprus.
‘Exports from Cyprus to the UK were estimated at €115m in 2017, which represented a 10 per cent share of the former’s worldwide exports’
“When you go do business in Cyprus, you are
made very welcome, you share and you get to know people who can assist you in your business endeavours.” Mr Mathews was accompanied by Costas
Dafos, from High Commission for the Republic of Cyprus and Keith Stokes-Smith, president of the Chamber, who gave attendees detailed information alongside Mr Mathew’s experiences of trading with the country. The UK is Cyprus’s second most significant
trading partner. Exports from Cyprus to the UK were
estimated at €115m in 2017, which represented a 10 per cent share of the former’s worldwide exports. UK exports to Cyprus were estimated to be €506m in the same year. Cyprus predominantly exports halloumi
cheese, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, vegetables and citrus fruit.
February 2019 CHAMBERLINK 41
• Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins • Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products • Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers • Vehicles other than railway, tramway • Electrical, electronic equipment • Pharmaceutical products • Articles of iron or steel • Beverages, spirits and vinegar • Plastics • Cereals
Keith Stokes-Smith, president of the GBCCC, said there are a number of factors that make Botswana a suitable country for Greater Birmingham companies to trade with – not least because of the strength of its legal system and the fact its first language is English. He said: “In featuring Botswana in our ‘Doing
Business With…’ event, we have taken into account a number of key factors which we believe are very relevant to the opportunities the country presents. “The country has a relatively high standard of
living thus a consumer base with money to spend on UK goods and services, and Greater Birmingham business can certainly provide some of the goods Botswana needs.” The Doing Business With Botswana event
takes place on 15 February at Chamber House in Harborne Road, Edgbaston.
Central business district, Gaborone, Botswana
Commonwealth Chamber Patron
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