Commonwealth Greater Birmingham
Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce Contact: Jamila Davis T: 0845 6036650
Making it easier for businesses to trade
By Philip Parkin
Greater Birmingham Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce (GBCCC) is set to plug a gap which has seen businesses struggling to find the right help to trade with Commonwealth countries. GBCCC chairman Keith Stokes-Smith said that
the new Chamber – now a year old – had discovered that many businesses were finding it difficult to get to the right people when it came to trading with any one or more of the Commonwealth countries. He said businesses were unsure about
whether to contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, or the High Commissions of the various countries – and worse, there was no central point of contact to direct people to or, that they would be guaranteed to receive a reply. Mr Stokes-Smith said: “It’s a maze and from a
business’ point of view it can be quite messy. We at the Chamber are going to take a look at that and see if we can make it easier for those businesses.”
‘Opportunities are greater now, and whatever happens with Brexit, nothing should stop us trading with the Commonwealth’
As well as plugging the ‘help gap’, the
Commonwealth Chamber is set to continue with its successful networking and events programme during the next 12 months. The organisation has arranged seven
Commonwealth bi-lateral trading events during the past year (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Malta, Cyprus and Jamaica), attracting a large number of delegates. Mr Stokes-Smith said that among countries
being targeted for imminent trade events were South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and Rwanda. It is also planned to hold a Pacific Rim
conference for the first time, possibly in November. Among countries that this will focus on is Australia, which has the longest uninterrupted run of gross domestic product growth in the developed world. It is also more than 26 years since the booming country had a recession. Also included will be New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Commonwealth Chamber now has more
than 80 members, some of whom were already members of other Chamber division, others not. Mr Stokes-Smith said: “We have had a
fantastic 12 months – we now to step up a few Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Ghana Access the leading
voices of Ghana The DIT Midlands Engine is hosting a Ghana trade mission this month, featuring members from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI). The AGI is a not-for-profit business
organisation established 62 years ago by a group of local manufacturers led by Dr Esther Ocloo of Nkulenu Industries. AGI is today viewed as the leading voice
of the private sector in Ghana, and the trade mission to Birmingham on 28 June will feature around 40 of its members. Firms represented will include a number
Ready to plug the gap: Keith Stokes-Smith
gears. We have got off the ground and have attracted people who have not previously been Chamber members. “One issue has been Brexit, and indecision
over that has resulted in many businesses putting things on hold, including trade deals. However, businesses were negotiating trade deals with Commonwealth countries before Brexit, so nothing has changed really. “Opportunities are greater now, and whatever happens with Brexit, nothing should stop us trading with the Commonwealth and even more so. Business cannot always rely on the home market for their goods or services. Further, exporting can spread risk and achieve economies of scale, in some cases.”
seeking investment partners, such as American Products, which operates in the food, oil and gas sectors; pharmaceutical firm Mangel Klicks Ltd; and Johnny’s Food and Meat Complex, an Accra-based food processing company. Mangel Klicks has expertise in the
installation of life support systems and other medical equipment, and is based near the University of Ghana, in Accra. Many of the firms taking part in the trade
mission are in the pharmaceuticals sector, including Ernest Chemists, which makes affordable medicines. The company has a manufacturing plant in the industrial city of Tema, east of Accra. Ghana is a country which has witnessed
strong economic growth recently, partly driven by increasing oil and gas exploration and production. Other key sectors include financial
services, agriculture, healthcare, and education and training.
June 2019 CHAMBERLINK 29 Commonwealth Chamber Patron
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