Arab and Birmingham Chamber trade relations fuse
Members from the International team at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) have met with trade experts at the Arab - British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) to see in-person how businesses are benefitting from its documentation services.
Mandy Haque, international director, Stefanie Bowes, international business manager and Sarah Barton, documentation officer at GBCC met with Mr Bandar Reda, chief executive, Mark Njoroge, chief financial officer, Imad Chaara, head of trade services at ABCC.
Building on the relationship of the two Chambers, Imad and Mark led the tour of the documentation departments at the ABCC in London.
Both Chambers work closely together to help businesses export and import into Arab countries as an Arab certificate of origin is necessary to transport goods form the UK.
The Certificate of Origin covers international regulations and is accepted by all governments. This in not only crucial in the export process but also helps businesses get through customs quicker.
There are over 20 different embassies that the Arab-British Chamber provides legislation guidance on.
The documentation team at GBCC help local businesses export to these respective countries through its close relationship with the Arab - British Chamber of Commerce.
Abdeslam El-Idrissi, deputy CEO & secretary general, said: “The ABCC was delighted to host a delegation of senior trade officers from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, which is one of our strategic partners, with whom we share decades long relationship, working every day to help exporters from the Birmingham region to get their goods to market in as prompt and efficient a way as possible coupled with market information and events.
“The visit was a great opportunity for us to meet face-to-face post Covid and to further bolster the important personal relationships that are an essential part of working together.
“The highly productive meeting enabled us to discuss matters of common interest and to explain the processes carried out at the Chamber to our visitors and to explore further joint activities.
“The ABCC looks forward to strengthening our partnership with our friends at Birmingham Chamber to meet the opportunities and challenges ahead. ”
For instance, one Birmingham-based business uses the services to transport goods such as food and toiletries to Qatar, Kuwait and Saudia Arabia.
Pictured (l-r): Mark Njoroge, chief financial officer - ABCC, Sarah Barton, documentation officer - GBCC, Stefanie Bowes, international business officer - GBCC, Mandy Haque, international director - GBCC, Bandar Reda, chief executive officer - ABCC, Imad Chaara, head of trade - ABCC.