As 2024 draws to a close, I am happy to report that the Chamber performed well throughout the year. Not only were we able to increase our membership base, but we also supported more than 5,000 companies successfully doing business across the Channel.
The UK saw an election in 2024, and under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, the government now aims to reset its relationship with the EU. Nearly five years after Brexit, such a reset is more than welcome. In light of all the geopolitical challenges, European nations will have to move closer together to take on a much stronger role in addressing them. As Germany prepares for a new government in 2025, additional opportunities to strengthen ties across the Channel may arise.
As prospering businesses are the foundation of our societies’ successes, we at the Chamber would like to thank all of you for supporting our vital work to keep trade and investment between our two nations flowing. We should also not forget that trade is not a zero-sum game, but a prerequisite for growth and wealth creation. Therefore, we will all need to continue making the case for it.
But for now, we wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025!
Dr Ulrich Hoppe
Director General
German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce