Chamber Launches Online Link To Europe

 Derbyshire and Nottingham Chamber of Commerce has enhanced its cooperation with its sister chamber in the German city of Darmstadt following the launch of a new two-way web portal.

The initiative, which the Chamber has launched in partnership with the Industrie und Handelskammer (IHK) Darmstadt, will provide firms with a host of new business opportunities, including the chance to make new contacts and develop existing trading relationships with German companies. Darmstadt Derby Group Shot

The bilingual web portal will feature the international trade newsletters of both chambers, offer advice on business and trade between UK and Germany and provide information on business framework and infrastructure in both countries. It is also linked to the contact databases for business opportunities at both chambers.

The website, http://twinning.ihk-tochterportale.de, was officially launched this week by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber Chief Executive George Cowcher and IHK Darmstadt CEO Dr. Uwe Vetterlein, during a special videoconference between the two chambers.

It follows the signing of a Charter of Cooperation by both chambers last year, which aims to make it easier for member businesses from both countries to trade with each other.

Darmstadt Launch (GC)Mr Cowcher said: "Germany is arguably the most important trading  partner of the UK in the EU, and this new web platform will improve the business opportunities between here and Darmstadt.

"The Chamber has a significant number of members which already do business in Germany and the industrial profile of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region in particular is very closely aligned with the business community here. This new initiative will further boost the number of opportunities for businesses in both countries." 

Darmstadt is located in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region of Germany, within easy reach of the rest of Europe, making it a superior region for UK firms to do business with.  

Its excellent transport links provide direct access to Europe's major cities, whilst the region also has a highly-skilled labour force, advanced information and communication technology infrastructure for ease and speed of doing business, and a number of research centres and universities that have been recognised globally for their excellence.

The region has an abundance of overseas personnel and capital which makes it one of the most productive and cosmopolitan cities in Germany. Global brands which have bases in the region include: Rolls Royce, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres, Bosch, Siemens and JVC     

Christine Turner, from accountancy firm Turner & Co, gave a keynote speech during the video conference. Her firm specialises in providing accountancy and taxation advice to UK subsidiaries of German-speaking parent companies. Darmstadt Launch 1

She said: "Our experience of doing business with German companies has been overwhelmingly positive. When we were developing our business strategy, we found that it was more difficult to get support for developing business trading with Europe.

"There is lots of support and advice available for trading with China and the Far East, the BRIC countries and Russia and of course, there are many opportunities in these countries. But our close European neighbours seem to be overlooked or even dismissed and certainly not actively encouraged.

"This online portal will be one way that practical help will be given and I am slightly envious of businesses who are just starting to look at trading with Germany, because their journey will now be easier than ours has been."  

Following on from the launch, Enterprise Europe Network, which the Chamber which delivers  in the East Midlands, is organising a three-day trade mission to Darmstadt for local firms.

For more information, or to book a place on the visit, call 0115 9578757, email eeninfo@dncc.co.uk or log onto the website www.dncc.co.uk.


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