November 2006 Newsletter
Forthcoming events:
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Cardiff Inward Mission (23 – 26 November)
If your company is considering whether to take part in this mission or you know a company that is considering how to expand its activities in Europe, there is still time to register. This mission will outline the unique benefits open to companies looking to grow their business activities in Wales.
Here are some interesting facts and figures:
- European funding available for up to 47% of establishment costs.
- Workforce of 3 million within one hour of Cardiff.
- UK domestic market population: 60 million people.
- Developed infrastructure: airports, motorways, express trains and port (Swansea).
- University Departments classified as “centres of excellence” for their commercialization.
- Average monthly salary for a Call Centre employee: DKK 12.000
- Over the last decade, 2.660 Investment Projects have been established, creating 170.000 new jobs with a total investment of DKK 177 billion.
These are very impressive facts and figures for any company looking to invest in its future growth and set up a UK office, or for those who wish to find appropriate business partners or to expand an already established UK presence.
You can read more about this Inward Mission on the BCCD web site.
The Board has decided that drinks are free before our Friday lunches in future, a decision which should encourage us to sign up for the next lunch on Friday 17 November. Drinks will be served from 11.45 for a start at 12.15 in the Imperial Hotel. Our speaker on this occasion will be the Czech Ambassador, Ivan Jancarek whose topic will be “Czech Republic – Your Partner for Trade and Investment”
Those expecting H. E, Mr. James P. Cain, the American Ambassador, to speak about “Entrepreneurship and Innovation” as previously announced, will not be disappointed, because he is now going to speak at lunch on January 19th.
Søren Gade, Danish Minister for Defence and Mimi Jakobsen, General Secretary of Save the Children Denmark are already lined up to speak at lunches later in the New Year. Keep your eye on our website for updated information.
The British Embassy will once again host the joint reception with UKTI and BCCD from 1700 to 1900 on Thursday, 7 December in their refurbished reception area. BCCD members are all invited with their partners, although we discourage the invitation of guests on this occasion.
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Thomas Kluge at Charlottenborg
We have arranged a special event at Charlottenborg in Nyhavn, Copenhagen on Wednesday 10 January 2007 from 17.00 – 19.00 with Thomas Kluge, the well known portrait artist, as our guest speaker. Thomas Kluge is renowned for his portraits of the Royal family and amongst others Mærsk McKinney Møller.
After a reception in the restaurant, we will hear Thomas talk about “Portrait Art” and then have a guided tour by the Director of the “Corner” exhibition at the gallery. The exhibition will be the largest collection of British art ever shown in Denmark.
Our Patron, the British Ambassador, will be hosting a dinner for Founder Members and other invited guests on Wednesday 7 February 2007 at the Residence, to meet and listen to a visiting speaker from the UK.
Past events:
Our Patron, H. E. Mr. David Frost, the British Ambassador was the speaker at this year’s Annual General Meeting of the BCCD, which took place on Friday 13 October. He spoke about the wider cultural implications of relations between Britain and Denmark in a talk drawing upon several hundred years of the history of relations between the two countries and giving interesting insights into the present situation.
Members received a report on the year from our Chairman, Mariano A. Davies, they approved the accounts and endorsed the election of Gareth Garvey and Jette Ward to the Board.
“Little Things can Mean a Lot” was the title of Professor John Donaldson’s after dinner address to the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark’s third Autumn Ball at the Odd Fellow Palæ on Saturday 28 October. Professor Donaldson drew the attention of members and guests to the potential significance of the smallest of changes, with humorous examples ranging from nanotechnology to cosmetics and from business life to the world of sport.
The Ball, once again sponsored by Sterling Airlines, was attended by the British Ambassador, Mr David Frost, Patron of the Chamber, several representatives of DSB, Scanplan, EM Growth and B-Innovation and many others from Founder, Corporate and Individual Members, together with partners and guests.
The evening began with a drinks reception and entertainment during coffee by vocal harmony from The Sofa Group (alias Sofagruppen) brought about a natural transition to the less formal part of the evening with dancing to The Happy Hours (alias Efterfyraften). The evening ended just before the clocks went back to winter time.
Full details of the event, including photos, can be found soon at www.bccd.dk.
General news:
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Denmark comes out top again
Copenhagen Capacity reports the Ritzau news agency as writing that Deutsche Bank has published a survey showing Denmark as the world champion in attracting private investments for entrepreneurial companies. This level is higher than both the USA and the average for the EU.
The Copenhagen Post is looking to strengthen its coverage of community news by hiring a reporter to cover the “international” community. Anyone interested should contact Kevin@cphpost.dk.
John Mott
Executive Director
3 November 2006
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