International

International Business in Birmingham

Birmingham is a global city and knowledge capital with a proud history of forging strong international links. At the moment 875 international businesses are taking advantage of the city’s tireless energy and vast resources. Sustained international collaboration in the fields of business, citizen, education, voluntary, sport and cultural interaction has fuelled Birmingham’s development into a shining example of muliticulturalism.

Engaging with other companies is more important than ever as the "global village" becomes ever smaller. Today, multi-national corporations undertake increased cross-border trading and communications and there is opportunity for people travel further and faster.

Birmingham’s Twin Cities

Birmingham is twinned with six ‘sister’ cities. These are:

• Chicago (USA)
• Frankfurt (Germany)
• Leipzig (Germany)
• Johannesburg (South Africa)
• Lyon (France)
• Milan (Italy)

Over the last 50 years the European and International partnerships formed through twinning have sought to increase the social and economic well being of people and organisations within and between specific partner cities. The relationships focus on providing meaningful education, business, culture, sport and community joint work.

Birmingham has also formed a Treaty of Friendship with:

• Guangzhou (China), formerly known as Canton, to further enhance its international role and to complement existing partner city activities 
• Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan from where about 90,000 Birmingham citizens originate