The head of Europe’s largest local authority will be aiming to form strategic trade links with Clare today.
It comes as Lord Mayor Chaman Lal of Birmingham has touched down at Shannon Airport for a two-day tour of the county.
Councillor Lal has already been flying through his Clare itinerary with visits to the Future Mobility Campus, EI Electronics and Jaguar Land Rover in Shannon.
Later today, the Lord Mayor will meet with key business stakeholders at a Shannon Chamber lunch before rounding off the weekend with visits to the Cliffs of Moher, Lough Derg, and Bunratty Castle.
Although Birmingham has the highest Irish population per capita in the United Kingdom, to date the city has formed no formal links with any Irish town at a municipal level.
Between January and March of last year, 12,000 passengers flew between Shannon and Birmingham.
Mayor of Clare and Bodyke Fine Gael Councillor Joe Cooney believes this link can play a key role in the economic development of both regions.
On the invitation of the Lord Mayor, a Clare delegation will make a return visit to Birmingham during March as the city celebrates the 50th anniversary of its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Some companies in Shannon are already delivering 60% of their exports to the Birmingham market, and the Chair of Clare’s Twinning Committee insists that any reciprocal visit will not be an optics exercise.
Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District and Fianna Fáil Councillor Tony O’Brien says the focus of any future venture will be firmly placed on promoting businesses in this county.
You can listen to the full interview below.
