Cross-channel trade with France under the microscope in Birmingham

Global Chamber of Commerce leaders put cross-Channel trade with France firmly under the microscope at a special roundtable in Birmingham.

Chamber members co-hosted the event with Business France, focusing on trade between the West Midlands and Normandy, highlighting transit through the Port of Dieppe.

Hosted by Chamber members Webster & Horsfall and chaired by Global President Mark Smith, guests from economic development agency AD Normandie, logistics company Vialog, DFDS and Euro Channel Logistics led the discussions with delegates from Make UK, Medilink Midlands, West Midlands Combined Authority, the Institute of Directors, Spirax-Sarco Engineering and Innovate UK Edge around opportunities and challenges of trading in Normandy post-Brexit.

Joanna Joseph, senior inward investment advisor, Business France UK, said: “The discussion was a real success. I believe everyone left with food for thought on collaborative possibilities with Normandy, real solutions our guests can take to their contacts, and I hope our guests will continue the discussions moving forward.”

Sian Timmins, head of international divisions with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “Thank you to our members Webster & Horsfall for hosting our guests, and Global Chamber President Mark Smith for chairing such a worthwhile discussion.

“It was great to see different challenges and solutions discussed amongst everyone and I’d like to thank Business France and our guests from Normandy for choosing to work with the Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce and our members.”