IN HIS 2012 budget speech, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the UK aims to double its exports to £1 trillion by 2020. It was a key target for the economy and business coming out of the financial crisis.
Since the launch of Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce in July 2013, we have helped local businesses to ship goods with a value of more than £38 million overseas – £4 million of this was in the last three months.
We have supported 135 businesses with export documentation and our members have saved more than £55,000 on international trade documents.
We will continue our efforts to make exporting hassle free and successful and work towards this ambitious government target.
We will be at the British Chambers of Commerce International Trade Conference in London on November 3 and the BCC’s Global Network Forum the following day, as well as being heavily involved in UKTI Export Week November 9-13.
Our International Trade services means our members access practical advice on how to increase their current international trade activity, which can boost both profitability and productivity and lower the unit cost.
The service is provided by our sister Chamber in Northamptonshire, a British Chamber of Commerce accredited issuer of export documentation.
Chamber members receive up to 50 per cent discount on all International Trade services, which include export documentation such as the issue of ATA Carnets – simplified customs documents that act as a passport to take your goods overseas for temporary demonstration or exhibition without paying duty or taxes.
The Chamber, via the BCC, has launched a new foreign exchange service for members. The Accredited Chamber Network has partnered with exchange experts Moneycorp to provide the comprehensive international payment service Chamber Foreign Exchange.
It is an exclusive member package offering a free foreign exchange health check for businesses, low transfer fees at just £5 and free account opening to buy and sell up to 35 different currencies.
Chamber Foreign Exchange includes bank-beating exchange rates – typically as much as 4% better – and fast online money transfers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing firms to trade at convenient times with online accounts and live rate information.
To find out more, visit www.chambermk.co.uk
