Chamber International secures Far East partnership

12 September 2013

A MAJOR new partnership to boost exports and inward investment between Yorkshire and Singapore has been agreed with international trade body, Chamber International.

The organisation, which supports chambers of commerce and other businesses with a range of specialist export services, has become one of the first of its kind to create a partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce, Singapore (BCCS).

Under the new partnership, part of the wider Overseas Business Network Initiative between UKTI and BCCS, businesses assisted by Chamber International will be able to access a range of fast-track bespoke  support in Singapore  through the BCCS including being able to ‘hot-desk’ at their premises, meeting hand-picked local companies,  attend trade shows and access local professional advisers.

BCCS business services manager, Jennifer Hainsworth, says: “This partnership will enable us to provide support to north of England SMEs wishing to export to Singapore and Asia and to facilitate greater investment from Singapore to northern England.

“As well as being English speaking with a strong legal framework and attractive tax system, creating a good market for Yorkshire exporters to test goods or services, Singapore is the de facto financial hub of Asia, making it the gateway to opening up other markets in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and China.

“Securing an agreement with Chamber International is a major step forward for us being able to interact with British companies. Partnering with such a highly-regarded specialist trader organisation gives us the credibility to partner with other chambers and export bodies.”

BCCS, one of the largest international chambers in Singapore where it has been operating for 59 years, has 375 company members and 2,100 individual members, many of whom are entrepreneurs.

Chamber International trade director, Tim Bailey, says: “The economic turbulence in Europe since the 2007 global banking crisis has led many exporting companies and those new to international trade to look further afield, including the Far East.

“We were keen to secure an agreement with BCCS as soon as possible and are pleased to be one of the first do to so. The Far East is becoming increasingly important and this partnership will benefit businesses we assist throughout the UK and those supported through the We Are International Export Network and Leeds City Region’s Local Enterprise Partnership’s export campaign.”

Chamber International is aiming to forge strategic partnerships with more bi-lateral chambers in key high growth markets over the coming months.

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