The Commonwealth Association’s Trade & Business Group is meeting on 30 April at Mills & Reeve LLP, Colmore Row 78-84 at 08.30am.

– South Africa

The first part of the Commonwealth meeting will focus on South Africa and the opportunities to export over there. 5.5% of South Africa’s imports are from the UK worth $6,385,483,234.97. Imports include cars, computers, delivery trucks, broadcasting equipment, vehicle parts and medicaments (substances used for medical treatment) machinery and mechanical appliances, chemical products, plastic and rubber, precision instruments, footwear, animal or vegetable fats, textiles and textile products etc.

The presentation is free of charge and will be supported by UKTI who will identify the opportunities – upsides and downsides – of trading with South Africa.

– HS2 & Birmingham Curzon St International Station

Gary Woodward, Principal Development Planning Officer from Birmingham City Council, will join the meeting and talk about HS2 as it will impact upon Birmingham, the area’s regeneration and growth, and the accompanying opportunities for investment and development – ideal for local companies who wish to tender for contracts. The new International station at Curzon St will further help unlock the areas potential creating 14,000 new jobs and a £1.3bn economic uplift (Data from Birmingham Big City Plan, February 2014).