Chambers to mark key US and Canada celebrations
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce 's international divisions are joining forces to mark two important dates in the Canadian and United States ' calendars.
A joint Canada Day and Independence Day celebration is being hosted by the Greater Birmingham Transatlantic and Global Chambers of Commerce on 24 July at the offices of No5 Chambers in Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham.
The event is organised by the Chambers in partnership with Birmingham Law Society.
And a key figure from the Canadian High Commission has been confirmed as the first guest speaker.
Claudio Ramirez (pictured) is the manager of the Canadian Technology Accelerator and First Secretary (Commercial) at the High Commission of Canada in London.
Prior to assuming this role in September 2022, he was Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Embassy to Colombia (2018-2022) and Deputy Director, South America, at Global Affairs Canada (2016-18).
Previous foreign assignments include Regional Economic and Finance Counselor for the Gulf Cooperation Council at the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with concurrent accreditation to the countries of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman (2012-2016), Consul and Trade Commissioner responsible for Investment and Innovation at the Consulate General of Canada in Miami (2008-2012), and Second Secretary (Trade) at the Canadian Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela (2005-2008).
Before joining the Canadian Foreign Service in 2001, Claudio held diplomatic posts with the World Health Organization in Lima, Peru (1999), and in Washington DC, United States (2000-2001).
Claudio holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Montreal (1997), a Masters in International Relations from the University of Amsterdam (1999), and a post-graduate certificate in Public Health and Human Rights from Harvard University (2000).
Both Canada Day and Independence Day hold immense cultural and historical significance for their respective countries.
They serve as occasions for citizens to come together, celebrate their national identity, and reflect on the achievements and progress made as independent nations.
Also speaking at the event will be Law Society president and No5 Chambers CEO Tony McDaid.
He will be joined too by Gus Franklyn-Bute, the senior regional investment advisor for the UK market at the Foreign Commercial Service, based in the US Embassy, London.
Gus manages SelectUSA - a federal program established to drive economic growth and create jobs in the US.
Gus provides strategic market entry advice to companies of all sizes and from all industries and advises US state and city economic development offices on international foreign direct investment strategies.
Mandy Haque, international director at the GBCC, said: “As more and more businesses in the Greater Birmingham region look to trade with and invest into North America, this is a good opportunity to come together to celebrate the special relationship between the three nations. ”