Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom

Etiqueta: Spanish

  • ANNUAL PATRONS’ DINNER 2018

    On Tuesday 20th March the Spanish Chamber organised the Annual Patrons’ Dinner. The event was held at the Spanish Embassy and H.E. the Ambassador of Spain Mr. Carlos Bastarreche Sagües was our exceptional host for the evening.

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    Our guests were welcomed with a selection of canapés that they could enjoy while tasting the selection of cava and wine, which was kindly sponsored by our Patron Raventós Codorníu,  as well as beers kindly provided by our Patron Mahou-San Miguel during the pre-dinner reception. This was the perfect opportunity for new Patrons to introduce themselves and get acquainted with the rest of representatives in attendance.

    After the reception, Patrons proceeded to the dining area to take their seats and get ready to enjoy a three-course dinner which consisted of pumpkin risotto with chestnut pesto, grilled sirloin steak with braised pork cheek and dauphinoise and mascarpone cheesecake with peanut butter.

    Before dinner was served Mr. Javier San Basilio, President of the Spanish Chamber, opened the evening with a special speech expressing his gratitude for the support that Patrons provide to this institution and warmly thanked the Ambassador for kindly welcoming the Patrons on his first event with the Spanish Chamber.

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    He also mentioned the new Patrons that the Chamber has gained since the last year’s dinner which were: DLA Piper, Trison, Ibérica Restaurants and Sacyr.

    After the President, it was the turn of H.E. the Ambassador Mr. Carlos Bastarreche Sagües, who began his speech by thanking the Spanish Chamber for the organisation and gave an overview of the current economic and political situation in the UK and Spain in the context of Brexit.

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    After the speeches, it was time for guests to enjoy the dinner and later to move on to the main reception room, where coffee and petit fours were served. Attendees enjoyed thus the end of the event in a comfortable atmosphere and could exchange impressions with the Ambassador and the President of the Chamber. This was the perfect closure for this exclusive gathering.

    We would like to thank our Patron Raventós Codorníu for their generous support providing the wines and cava served during the event and also special thanks to our Patron Mahou-San Miguel for kindly sponsoring the beer and water at this special evening.

    Finally, we are grateful to our Patrons for their attendance and we look forward to seeing them at the next Patrons’Event.

    To see the complete pictures of the evening, please click here.

    If you would like to be updated on forthcoming activities, do not hesitate to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Alternatively, you can also check out our event in the UPCOMING EVENTS section within our website.

  • COMING SOON: OUR 131ST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

    We are pleased to announce that our 131st Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 5th July at the exclusive One Great George Street,  located in the centre of Westminster.

    This corporate event is one of the most important annual activities organised by the Spanish Chamber and is attended by leading representatives from a wide range of British and Spanish companies. As tradition dictates, the event will be presided by H.E. the Ambassador of Spain, Mr. Carlos Bastarreche Sagües.

    We are furthermore delighted to welcome The Rt. Hon David Lidington CBE MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster as our Guest of Honour for the occasion and would like to take this opportunity to introduce him and the Cabinet he represents.

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    Mr. David Lidington studied History at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge. He was elected Member of Parliament for Aylesbury in 1992 and has held a number of prominent positions including Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2003 to 2007 and Shadow Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2007 to 2010. He also served as Minister of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) from May 2010 until July 2016. Mr. Lidington was Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council from July 2016 to June 2017.

    He went on to become Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from June 2017 to January 2018, when he was appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duty of Lancaster. Outside from politics, he has worked for BP and RioTinto – Zinc Corporation (RTZ) before spending 3 years as Special Adviser to Douglas Hurd in the Home Office and Foreign Office.

    The Minister for the Cabinet Office is responsible for the policy and work of the department, and attends Cabinet. His responsibilities include advising the Prime Minister on developing and implement government policy, chairing and deputy chairing Cabinet committees, realising task forces and overseeing the consequences of devolution of Britain’s exit from the EU.

    With such a distinguished Guest of Honour, we are certain that attendees will enjoy this opportunity to meet Mr. David Lidington and to hear his views over the course of the evening.  This is one of our most eminent annual events and it is anticipated that over 200 leading representatives from Spanish and British companies will be in attendance, providing an excellent opportunity to network and meet new Chamber members.

    Please remember that places for this event are limited, so do not forget to book yours in advance to avoid disappointment. For further information on this event and how to submit your booking, please click here.

    If you are interested in sponsoring this event please contact hannah.sanders@spanishchamber.co.uk

  • The Client Academy |Accomplishing Your 2018 New Year’s Resolutions

    On Thursday, 23th January we held a seminar on “Accomplishing your 2018 New Year’s Resolutions” at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. On this occasion the speaker for the session was Monica Hernandez, Founder and Managing Director of The Client Academy.

    The aim of the session was to encourage participants to achieve their New Year’s Resolutions by analysing the ‘Immunity to Change’ model. To open the event, Igor Urra, Secretary General of the Chamber,  gave a warm welcome to all attendees on behalf of our institution and introduced Ms. Hernandez who began the session with a summary of her professional career and made reference to the concept of immunity to change.

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    Ms. Hernandez went on to speak about the difference between a technical problem and an adaptive challenge. She subsequently presented the different sections of the ‘Immunity Map’, emphasizing the importance of the ‘Big Assumption’. The latter idea was described as a window through which we see life and how we create our own reality.

    Once the ‘Immunity Map’ had been introduced, Ms. Hernandez presented some of her clients’ case studies and invited attendees to build their own maps. The purpose of building this map was to test the previously mentioned ‘Big Assumption’ and demonstrate how it works against our most desired changes.

    The conclusion was that immunity to change implies a hidden ‘brake’ that is preventing from moving forwards. For this reason, we need to change our mindset before changing our behaviour when looking to create a meaningful change.

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    The session ended with some of the attendees sharing their thoughts related to the ‘Big Assumption’ and behaviours preventing them from finally accomplishing their New Year’s Resolutions.

    Following the session, all attendees had the opportunity to network, ask Monica Hernandez any questions and exchange their impressions and ideas about the points covered in the seminar while enjoying some breakfast.

    If you would like to find out about other activities that the Spanish Chamber is organising, we encourage you to keep an eye on the Upcoming Events section of our website. You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive bi-weekly updates of our notices and events schedule.

  • Brexit: Immigration and Employment morning talk with the Embassy of Spain

    On the morning of Wednesday 15th November 2017, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce held a morning talk titled Brexit: Immigration and Employment in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain to the United Kingdom, held at their premises in Knightsbridge, London.

    There were three speakers leading the session: Juan Duarte, Counsellor at the Embassy of Spain, José Riera, General Consul at the Spanish Consulate in London and Reyes Zataraín del Valle; Employment and Social Security Advisor. Once all attendees had taken their seats, Eduardo Barrachina, Associate at White & Case LLP (member of the Chamber) opened the talk and welcomed everyone to the Embassy.

    Mr Duarte then started proceedings by explaining the format of the talk. He went on to briefly describe the timeline of Brexit events and developments thus far, particularly in terms of key dates and negotiations. He spoke about the issues of the single market, the current situation with social security and documentation of EU citizens residing in the UK; highlighting that the sooner negotiations can get underway the better the outcome will be for everyone.

    José Riera spoke next, beginning by emphasising the importance of Spanish citizens who reside in the UK enrolling in the Spanish Consulate and the many reasons for this. He spoke of the wider work of the Consulate and the issues and technicalities surrounding the application process for British citizenship, adding that the amount of people applying for this is continually increasing.

    Reyes Zataraín del Valle then opened up her talk by explaining how there is currently a good situation in terms of Social Security and that Spain has a stable and well developed system for this. She went on to speak in greater detail about the matter, covering additional areas such as pensions, benefits, indefinite leave to remain and settled status in the UK.

    After the three speakers then spoke again, Mr Duarte invited guests to ask any questions they might have; although they had also been previously encouraged to do so throughout the talk. There were a great deal of questions asked which were directed to and answered by the three members of the panel. After the final question was answered, attendees were encouraged to send any further queries they might have to the embassy by email (to either brexitventanillaresidentes@maec.es or emb.londres.brexit@maec.es).

    This was a popular talk with a fantastic turnout and positive feedback received, with attendees having found the content both insightful and useful. We would like to thank the Embassy of Spain for collaborating with us on this event and for holding it at their premises, as well as all of those who took part.

    If you would like to know more about this kind of events and others organised by the Chamber, do take a look at the Upcoming Events section of our website or subscribe to our electronic newsletter for biweekly updates.

  • 130th ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER WITH ALEX CRUZ

    On Tuesday 6th December we held our 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner, which took place at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall, one of London’s traditional Livery Halls and one of the oldest still in activity. On such a special occasion, we welcomed nearly 200 guests who did not want to miss the opportunity to be part of the last corporate event of the year.

    In fact, the Gala Dinner was the cherry on the top of a busy calendar of events our institution has organised during 2016 to celebrate its 130th years of activity during which it has paved the way for Spanish businesses to thrive in the British market and vice versa.

    This black-tie dinner was presided by the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Mr. Federico Trillo-Figueroa and we counted on the attendance of Mr. Álex Cruz, Chairman and CEO of British Airways, as our Guest of Honour.

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    From left to right: H.E. The Ambassador of Spain, Mr. Álex Cruz, Mrs. Mª José Molinuevo and Mr. Javier San Basilio, President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.

    The proceedings began with a drinks reception, allowing guests to interact with each other while enjoying a glass of cava or wine, both of which were kindly provided by our Patron Codorníu Raventós.

    After the reception, guests were ushered to the Great Hall where dinner would be taking place and went on to take their seats. The proceedings of the dinner started with H.E. the Ambassador of Spain leading the traditional loyal toasts in honour of the King of Spain and the Queen of Great Britain.

    Speeches began after dessert was cleared with the President of the Spanish Chamber, Mr. Javier San Basilio, taking the stage to welcome guests on behalf of the institution and thanking them for their outstanding support on the celebration of our 130th Anniversary.

    He went over the achievements of the year, which have included the gaining of new members and Patrons, and warmly thanked our Guest of Honour for having accepted our invitation before giving the floor to H.E. the Ambassador of Spain.

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    Attendees enjoying the warm atmosphere.

    In his speech, the Ambassador recalled the longstanding relationship between Spain and the UK and how the two countries should aim to strengthen their links. These words are of special relevance in a year that has been marked by the outcome of the British referendum in June and its potential implications for countries in the European Union with significant commercial links with the UK.

    After the Ambassador, it was the turn of our Guest of Honour, Mr. Álex Cruz, Chairman and CEO of British Airways. In his address to our guests, Mr. Cruz highlighted the different challenges he has faced throughout his career in the changing landscape of the aviation sector, which has undergone an unprecedented overhaul since the appearance of low-cost carriers.

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    The President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Javier San Basilio, during his speech.

    In fact, Mr. Cruz mentioned that in the 9 months he had spent in his current post at British Aiways he had incorporated his know-how in order to make the Heathrow-based airline more competitive whilst ensuring a great level of customer service. Mr. Cruz also announced the ambitious plans of British Airways, which include new routes from Gatwick to New York, and new connections with Spain, which is a key destination for British travellers.

    In his final remarks, he went on to explain the impact Brexit could have on the industry, and reminded attendees that British Airways had opted for a neutral position in the run-up to the vote in June. He hoped the negotiations to leave the EU would not harm a sector that has already been affected by the depreciation of the sterling and which is at the core of the British economy.

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    Our Guest of Honour, Mr. Álex Cruz, Chairman and CEO of British Airways.

    When speeches ended, our guests could engage in further networking and greet Mr. Álex Cruz and the rest of attendees. The atmosphere was vibrant and relaxed as our Patrons, members and their guests mingled and exchanged their impressions of the evening.

    We would very much like to thank our members and their guests for joining us on the occasion of our 130th Anniversary and for sharing such a special evening for our institution. We are truly grateful to our kind sponsor Codorníu Raventós for their contribution with the wines and cava that were served throughout the event.

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    The event gathered nearly 200 guests, who could enjoy the impressive atmosphere at Merchant Taylors´ Hall.

    Please click here to access the complete gallery of pictures of the 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner. For a short video on how the evening went, please click on the following link 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner Video.

    For further information about events in 2017, do not hesitate to visit our Upcoming events section at www.spanishchamber.co.uk or subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly updates in your inbox.

  • INTERNATIONAL WINE, BEER AND SPIRITS TASTING 2016

    On Tuesday 20th September we took part in the International Wine and Spirits Tasting, which is organised every year by several foreign Chambers of Commerce in London. This event aims to broaden the attendee’s network by gaining access to a genuine international audience.

    Over 250 guests gathered at the magnificent Drapers´Hall, a livery hall steps away from the City, to taste a selection of wine, beer, and spirits from around the world as they walked their way around the different country stations scattered throughout the venue.

    On this occasion, Argentina, Austria, Belgium & Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Switzerland were the countries whose wines and spirits were represented at the event. This made this evening the largest International Wine and Spirits Tasting to date in terms of number of countries represented.

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    This year the event counted with almost 250 attendees.

    With such international mixture the event didn’t fail to impress. Guests had a unique opportunity to broaden their international business networks with their peers from other Chambers, with which everyone was delighted. In fact, attendees were sharing and exchanging opinions about the spirits and making recommendations to each other in a very relaxed environment, which translated into a very positive and lively atmosphere.

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    Alhambra Reserva 1925, from Mahou-San Miguel group, Patron of the Chamber provided a delicious beer for the event.

    The International Wine and Spirits Tasting would not be possible without the kind collaboration of the sponsors. On this occasion, Alhambra Reserva 1925, from Mahou-San Miguel group, Patron of the Chamber was the sponsor of the Spanish Chamber. Mr. Pau Campolier and Mr. Alexis Becco, from Mahou-San Miguel, were in charge of the Spanish beer station.

    During the event, there were many individuals and lovers of the Spanish gastronomy that stopped by the Spanish stand to taste the beer presented by Alhambra, Reserva 1925. This variety is crafted with hand-selected Saaz hops, among the most exclusive in the world, and renowned for their delicate aroma and floral spicy flavour.

    Alhambra remains faithful to its traditions while reinterpreting and adapting its beer to modern times.

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    Pau Campolier and Alexis Becco from Mahou- San Miguel at the Spanish Chamber stand.

    Spanish beer was only one of the many options our guests could taste. According to many attendees, the revelation of the evening was the new participant Colombia and their rum. Others showed their preference for Japanese sake, or the colourful Italians liqueurs, without forgetting the sweet Canadian ice wine that once again impressed the most demanding connoisseurs. What everyone agreed on was the excellent selection each country offered, which allowed many guests to discover new and unexpected flavours.

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    The attendees had the opportunity to enjoy different kinds of spirits from around the world.

    We would like to warmly thank our Patron Mahou-San Miguel for their kind support providing the Alhambra beer. Likewise, we would like to thank as well to all the attendees who joined us and, especially, to our colleagues at the Foreign Chambers of Commerce and trade institutions for their work and collaboration to bring this event to life and make it a success yet once again.

    We are looking forward to seeing you next year at the International Wine and Spirits Tasting. If you could not attend or would like to remember this outstanding evening, please click here to access the complete gallery of pictures for this event.

    If you want to know what we are up to next, sneak a peek at the UPCOMING EVENTS section on our website or subscribe to our electronic newsletter for weekly updates

  • Financial Forum: European Emerging Markets.

    On Thursday 9th July the Financial Forum of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce organised it’s third meeting since it was launched in January 2014. The gathering was held in London at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The Financial Forum belongs to and is managed exclusively by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain. Its main function is to bring together Spanish professionals from the City and provide them with a platform to promote the dialogue, share best practices and exchange ideas about the current economic and financial context.

    The meeting took place at the EBRD great room
    The meeting took place at the EBRD premises in central London.

    The session, which was presided by Prof. Ahmad Rahnema, Chairman of the Forum, focused on “European Emerging Markets: the Ukrainian and Russian Crisis”. Mr. Philip Bennett, First Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the EBRD and member of the Bank’s Executive Committee,  addressed attendees and highlighted the importance of long term investments for the economies of these countries to move forward. As he explained, Ukrainian economy is going through a painful adjustment in order to attract foreign capital while Russia presents a much more delicate scenario where the confidence of the investor is weakening.

    L to R. Mr. Barrachina, Mr. Oporto, Mr. Bennett and Mr. Rahnema
    From left to right: Mr. Eduardo Barrachina, Mr. Antonio Oporto, Mr. Philip Bennett, Prof. Ahmad Rahnema and Mr. Javier Fernández Hidalgo.

    The Forum counted with the privilege attendance of Mr. Antonio Oporto, Board Director for Spain and Mexico of the EBRD; Mr. Javier Fernández Hidalgo, President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain and Mr. Eduardo Barrachina from White & Case and Treasurer of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. This time, representatives from BBVA, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Dragados, EBRD, Ferrovial, HSBC, IESE, JP Morgan, Lloyds Bank, Mapfre, Morgan Stanley, Société Générale, and Uría Menéndez were in attendance.

    Some of our guests at the arrival of the conference
    Attendees greeted each other moments before the event started.

    After the session and subsequent Q&A, attendees were kindly invited to move on to the reception area where they could enjoy a selection of products from the markets where the EBRD is currently present. Some of the great products they enjoyed were Efes Pilsen, a refreshing Turkish beer as well as Marani red & white wines from Georgia.

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    Our guests tasted some original products during the cocktail.

    We would like to thank all guests and the kind host EBRD for their support and participation in the Financial Forum of the Spanish Chamber. Lastly, if you are interested in the events of the Chamber and want to be informed on our current activities, please click on this link to complete the form that you will find at the bottom of the page and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

  • EXPAT EMPLOYEES AND TAXES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

    The Spanish Chamber of Commerce was thrilled to work with Blick Rothenberg to organise  the “Tips for Spanish Companies sending expats to UK” seminar, held at their premises on Thursday 31st January.

    The event kicked off with a warm welcome both from Igor Urra, Secretary General of the Spanish Chamber, and Blick Rothenberg partners Simon Wagman and Mark Abbs – also the speaker for this seminar. They highlighted the importance of maintaining a good relationship in order to build on a business platform to discuss similar topics at future events.

    Mark Abbs covered different tax-related issues
    Mark Abbs covered different tax-related issues with a focus on Spanish expat employees.

    The seminar provided a general overview on the relevant aspects to consider when Spanish companies decide to open a branch in the UK sending employees from Spain covering issues some companies may not always be aware of.  How the tax legislation should be implemented among their staff; when UK tax is due, when a tax needs to be considered through remuneration or as exemption, and how the role of UK payroll withholding system  and how it works.

    Afterwards, Mark got into the full swing of the event, mingling with attendees willing answering different questions about this interesting and in many ways unknown topic. He explained what the UK-Spanish tax treaty consists of and he acknowledged the fact that some of the elements can be confusing when dealing with a tax issue.

    In fact, as Mark pointed out, many people think that it is possible to avoid UK tax if you are paying Spanish tax or if you have a Spanish employer or payroll, this is not necessarily the case and all tax claims must be backed up by evidence. A lot of this is dependent upon how long the working period is in the UK or whether the employee is a UK resident or not.

    Attendees exchanged and shared their ideas at the networking breakfast.
    Attendees exchanged and shared their ideas at the networking breakfast.

    The event ended up as always with a productive networking breakfast, time when attendees and speakers alike were able to come together, share thoughts and discuss further the ideas the seminar had covered. Needless to say this bit provided a wonderful opportunity to make business contacts, which are always welcome.

    The Spanish Chamber would like to thank all attendees for joining us and particularly Blick Rothenberg for hosting the event at their premises. If you were in attendance, please let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

    For further news about Chamber events, previous seminars and announcements please browse our blog.

  • What can the Chamber do for you?

    Dear Member,

    It is quite likely you have asked yourself this question in the early stages or your membership or prior to joining our institution. Maybe even after becoming a member.

    For some of you it may have been clear from the beginning: having access to a highly varied network of both British and Spanish businesses from a wide range of professional sectors. Others may favour the institutional visibility provided by the status of becoming a Patron of our institution, while some others may have decided to join simply because they want to be part of the big family that the Chamber has become since its foundation back in 1886. Needless to say it has grown to have quite a lot relatives over the years.

    Whatever your reason for joining, members expect to make the most of their membership, which honestly is fair enough. So with this in mind, we would like to remind you that at the Spanish Chamber there is always something for everyone according to their specific needs.

    So what’s in it for members in terms of …

    Events and Networking

    We may be a small team, but we try not to let this hold us back from planning an ever growing calendar of events with a wide range of formats, and with over 50 activities per year each member can find the right one for them.

    In addition to our own activities, we collaborate with other institutions and foreign Chambers from time to time in order to increase the events on offer for our associates, allowing them to have access to an even bigger professional network.

    We also offer companies the possibility to increase their brand awareness by sponsoring some of our activities, and to organise events in collaboration with us – and so it is in this capacity that we encourage partners to get in contact with us should they wish to explore scope for working together on an event. Our Events and Communication team will be happy to assist and help you choose the right format for your specific needs.

    If you have never attended our events or do so very rarely, we strongly recommend that you try to take part in them – if for nothing else than to meet new members and to catch up with old ones. We are in attendance to all the activities that we organise, so it will be our pleasure to welcome you whether it is the first time you attend them or not.

    Although they all followed the instructors’ explanations very carefully, none were able to figure out when the «drinks bit» actually started

    Trade and Commercial Services

    The Chamber does not live on networking events only, and so if you are looking to explore new business opportunities and seek to approach potential new clients or professional partners, our Foreign Trade Department has the right tools to assess specific commercial strategies suitable to your company.

    From individual commercial agendas to multi -sector trade missions, the department covers different scenarios to ensure each business can find the adequate means to explore possible avenues of collaboration in the British or Spanish markets, providing guidance and information throughout the process.

    Other services

    We are always looking to improve the membership experience we offer to our associates and with that in mind we have created different sections on our website to allow members to interact with each other. For instance, did you know we have a dedicated M2M (Members-to-Members) section where associated companies can advertise exclusive offers and promotions for other members? Or that you can promote the activities you organise via our Members’ Events section?

    We have also created a Spanish Chamber of Commerce group in LinkedIn so our members can share and exchange information, create discussion groups, or simply network online if you cannot always make it to our events. We know you prefer the real thing but as the saying goes «half a loaf is better than none».

    In addition to the above, if you have any questions, suggestions or ideas you would like to share with us, do not hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to hear what our members have to say to help us grow and improve as an institution.

    And as the big family the Chamber has grown to be, it is just worth remembering that we are also here to give a helping hand. So next time you are in doubt whether we can be of assistance, just let us know.

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