| BIU - more than just commerce |  Print |
Don't be fooled by the British Import Union's name. Founded in 1930 in order to help Danish importers of British goods to navigate various currency and customs regulations, since 1973 the BIU has been as much about culture as commerce
After the war the BIU was a natural meeting place for members who had joined the resistance and it was active in sponsoring the first tattoos at Rosenborg Parade Ground and the Tattoo Foundation by giving scholarships to members of the army and navy and their dependants.
In 1973 the European Free Trade Area knocked down trade barriers between European Community outsiders, including Denmark and Britain. But what could have been a terminal development for the BIU instead proved an opportunity for it for it to build up its other activities.
But far from going into a mid-life crisis after the forming of EFTA, the BIU found itself quickly shifting its emphasis away from its trade-related activities to its cultural activities. The union's luncheon programme, established in 1946, soon began a gradual expansion from a handful of events each year to a least seven, a number it maintains to this day.
During the same period, the BIU showed its commitment to strengthening ties to Britain by taking the lead in establishing the Anglo-Dania Committee, an umbrella organisation for all Danish groups promoting improved relations with Britain - be they cultural, political or economic-oriented. The committee was officially founded in 1982, but proved less of a success than originally expected.
In 1994, in conjunction with the handover of the chairmanship of the BIU's board to Thomas Federspiel from Steen Langebæk KBE the organisation took the opportunity to reiterate that its mission was to "work to promote the greatest amount of co-operation between Denmark and Great Britain, particularly in light of its strong historic, cultural and commercial bonds."
That goal was to be accomplished in three ways: through its luncheons featuring prominent speakers, holding seminars on relevant topics and by giving financial support to commercial or cultural expositions.
An event that really caught the public eye was when the BIU re-established the Hamlet festivals at Kronborg Castle in 1979 and the three following years, the performances were attended by Queen Margrethe and Prince Charles.
In recent years, the BIU has underscored its commitment to improving commercial relations by awarding two scholarships each year to Danes studying for their MBA in Britain.
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