Chamber News

Croatia is expected to become a member of the European Union on 1 July 2013, see here, you may need to complete Intrastat returns if you import or export goods between the UK and Croatia. Click here for more information on Intrastat

The MEA are arranging with UKTI in Tripoli, a group Mission programme which will include meetings with both Ministries/Government Organisations and key players in Libya based on the sectors of interest represented by Mission delegates. A networking reception to which delegates may invite guests will also take place. Delegates will be assisted in obtaining the visa required to enter Libya and security arrangements will be in place.

This Mission will be multi-sector, with an emphasis on:

• Education
• Training andSkills
• Business andFinancial Services
• Defence andCivil Security
• Healthcare
• Technologyand ICT

The MEA believes it is the perfect time to engage with the Libyan market, as Libyans lay out the future plans for their economy and the rebuilding of their country and they anticipate that there will be excellent opportunities for both immediate business agreements and the commencement of long-term relationships.

To register your interest and obtain further information please click here,

Enterprise Europe Network and UK Trade and Investment are offering ten companies the opportunity to join a regional delegation visiting Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city, from 5 – 8 March.

The visit, which is arranged in conjunction with the British Embassy in Sofia and the Bulgarian Industrial Association, provides East of England companies with the chance to participate in a series of business – to – business meetings organised by Enterprise Europe Network.

Delegates will be introduced to potential customers, suppliers, distributors and technology partners in Sofia. The group will also attend an in – market briefing from the British Embassy’s UKTI team and hear the opinions of Brits already active in the Bulgarian market.

Enterprise Europe Network, which has nearly 600 partner offices in 54 countries around the World, will outline business support services available to East of England companies trying to break into the Bulgarian market.

The mission is being overseen by EEN European trade advisor, Mark Hofman, who said: “Bulgaria is one of the UK’s fastest growing export markets and this visit will hopefully help to open a few doors for firms looking to expand their overseas operations.

“Although the BRIC economies may be grabbing headlines, it is vital that regional businesses explore the potential of emerging markets closer to home. EEN and our partners UKTI are working closely together to enable firms to make that initial contact with Bulgarian businesses that will hopefully lead to a long and mutually beneficial business relationship.”

A grant is available to eligible East of England companies, of £350 per delegate, towards the cost of travel and accommodation.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to visit a multi-sector international trade fair and the option of attending a business networking reception at the British Ambassador’s residence in Sofia.

Take a look at the flyer hereor contact Mark Hofman on 01707 398069 or at [email protected]for further information.

Following the successful trade mission in 2012, European Atlantic Trade & Investment Missions will be taking another trade mission to Panama on 15-20 April 2013. The mission has the full support of the British Embassy, UKTI, the Panama Trade & Investment Agency, and the Embassy of Panama in the UK.

Thanks to massive public infrastructure development projects, an ambitious development programme, and booming transportation and logistics sectors, Panama has been dubbed “The Dubai of the Americas.” Its dollar-based economy has continued to grow at a rate of 10.6% in 2011 and is expected to continue its upward trend after the completion of the expansion of the canal in 2014, which will more than double the Canal’s capacity. The country has no current account deficit.

Panama is a hot destination for foreign investment, with the UK being the largest investor in the country. UK exports to Panama were worth £ 318m and imports £ 60m in 2011.

The mission will coincide with the biggest international trade fair in the region-EXPOCOMER, where the British Embassy/UKTI has secured a large British stand. Theaim is to make a big British statement at the exhibition and to introduce UK business to the wide array of business and investment opportunities in Panama.

Please click here for more details of the Mission and how to book your place.

One of the Egyptian-British Chamber of Commerce’s respected member companies, Narmer Sanitary Ware, is looking to expand to the UK market. The company has a vast experience in supplying sanitary ware and ceramic tiles for trade and commercial needs – like bath tubs, sinks, and WC’s – to ceramic tiles and ceramic decor tiles. Narmer started operations in Jabal Ali, Dubai and has since served the entire Middle East Region.Narmer is selling the available products in the catalogues or is ready to produce private label products for the UK market.

The UK based company is looking to expand its product offering to Europe, and specifically the UK. Narmer is looking for reliable wholesale, contractors or home developers and retail contacts, as well as UK agents with expertise in the sanitary ware industry as well as ceramic tiles to sell into the wholesale and retail markets in the UK. For further information contact: Taher El Sherif, Secretary-General, The Egyptian-British Chamber of Commerce using the methods below. Tel +44 (0)20 7499 3100 Mobile 0044 (0) 7887722664 BlackBerry 0044 (0) 7553370082 Email [email protected]

Greater Anglia has recognised four Conductors who achieved top marks for excellent customer service in a recent ‘mystery shopping’ survey.

Nikki Scott, Cliff Knapp, James Deery and George Dell all scored 100% when assessed by mystery shoppers on the train and were praised for their good rapport with customers and helpful, friendly attitudes.

Conductor Manager, John Bellchamber, said, “I am delighted that four of my team have been singled out as delivering excellent customer service and would like to thank them for their efforts to create a pleasant on board experience for our customers. They are a great asset to the team.”

Nikki and James are familiar faces on trains between Ipswich and Cambridge. George is a Clacton based Conductor and Cliff works on mainline trains between Norwich and London Liverpool Street.

Customer service and quality standards at Greater Anglia stations are assessed on a regular basis and the Conductors achieved their perfect scores of 100% when assessed as part of a recent mystery shopping exercise carried out between 9th December 2012 and 5th January 2013.

Andrew Goodrum Greater Anglia’s Customer Services Director said:

“Since the Greater Anglia franchise began, we have been concentrating our efforts on improving the customer experience; one important element of this is to give our staff additional training, enabling them to provide the best service possible for the over two million passengers a week using our services in London and the East Anglia region. I am delighted that this training is having real benefits in practice and improving customer service in all aspects of our business.”

Chris Perry, the Norfolk Chamber’s Membership Manager was part of the panel of judges assessing the Mayor’s Business Awards. The Mayor’s Business Awards are the King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council’s way of publicly acknowledging outstanding business achievement and the contribution that businesses make to the West Norfolk economy.

Established in 1989, by former mayor Cllr Les Daubney, the awards publicly recognise the achievements of local businesses and provide them with the perfect opportunity to showcase their success.

The awards are open to all sizes of companies and allow West Norfolk businesses to share their success stories, highlight new products, the conquering of new markets, training or developments in their staff. This year the three categories are:

• Manufacturing Business of the Year
• Service Business of the Year
• Young Business of the Year

Judging took place on Tuesday, 15 January and the finalists will be were over 3 days. The results will be announced on 15 March 2013 at the prestigious Mayor’s Awards Ceremony in King’s Lynn.

As part of its industrial strategy, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced that there will be, initially, 10 sector strategies, of which oil and gas would be one.

The industry’s input is essential as BIS and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) develop this work in partnership with Oil & Gas UK. Sector strategies will be co-developed and implemented with industry to be durable and will:

• be long-term in focus: developing a vision for the sector and what needs to happen from both government and business to get there
• be co-created with industry: committing both business and government to specific actions to maintain and develop long-term capabilities
• take a whole of government approach: looking across all of government to identify barriers and levers which have the biggest impacts and align these to deliver growth
• engage across the totality of the sector: working with industry and identifying actions which benefit business across the whole supply chain whether they are large, medium or small

The complete UK Government Oil and Gas Sector Strategy can be found here

It is believed this will be of interest to stakeholders across the London and East region and the UK Government very much welcomes Industry’s views, particularly through January 2013.

Views can be fed into:

BIS – Tom Worsley – [email protected] – 020 7215 6480 DECC – Audrey Banner – [email protected] – 01224 254104

The last few weeks has seen theGovernmentholding a series of road show consultationevents across England to seek views on a new streamlined approach for delivering European Union (EU) funds.

The EU funds covered include the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). These funds are the main European instruments for supporting local projects to increase jobs and growth.

The value of these funds for the next spending period (2014 – 2020) has not yet been decided, but the Government has been working with stakeholders on a more efficient mechanism for distributing the funds from 2014.

The proposals include ideas for using the different funds in a more complementary and integrated way. The Government also wants to make funding simpler to access and easier to operate for beneficiaries. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will be invited to be more closely involved in the process of distributing the funds. LEPs would bring together local authorities and local businesses, and can therefore design and deliver investment strategies that target the needs of their local area.

The East of England road show was held at Ipswich Town FC on the 30th November and attractedrepresentatives fromlocal authorities, LEPs, charities, and other stakeholders. Road shows were also held in Maidstone on the 28th November and in London on 7th December.

Business and Enterprise Minister Michael Fallon said:

“These EU funds help to boost growth and jobs across the UK and we need to make the most of them. For the next seven years it’s important that they are delivered in the most efficient way to ensure we get maximum impact for the investments being made.

“It’s vital we have discussions with the organisations that will deliver and benefit from these funds at an early stage.”

Following feedback from the road shows on the new model, a formal consultation will be launched in spring 2013.

In the US, the latest economic datashowed that activity in the manufacturing sector began expanding again in December. However, the rate of expansion was weak, with many businesses postponing investment decisions due to uncertainty over the fiscal cliff. Both issues still need to be addressed with another stand-off likely to lead to a shutdown of the federal government by late February or early March.

The latest survey of credit conditions from the Bank of Englandpublished last Thursday provided encouraging evidence that the Funding for Lending scheme (FLS) is improving the availability of credit for both businesses and households. The report revealed that the availability of credit to businesses rose for the first time in a year, while the availability of secured credit increased to its highest level since the survey began in 2007. However there are still some areas of concern, including the pressures facing small businesses, with the credit available to small firms significantly below that available to larger scale businesses

The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce have received advices from the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq, that with immediate effect, exporters ofMedicines being shipped to Iraq will NOT need to obtain a Certificate of Conformity.

All other documentary requirements, remain the same.