WIRRAL Chamber of commerce forged business links with North West Spain during a recent trade visit.

Representatives met officials from Cámara Oficial de Comercio (Santiago de Compostela Chamber of Commerce) to discuss mutual links and opportunities for both regions to learn from each other and create new partnerships.

Wirral's relationship with Santiago was sealed by signing a Memorandum of Understanding, which agrees to consolidate and develop co-operation for economic and cultural links and build new business and trade opportunities.

It was signed by José Luis Rodríguez Dacal, Santiago chamber's vice president and Paula Basnett, chief executive of Wirral Chamber of commerce at a ceremony attended by officials from both organisations.

Santiago's economy is largely based around cultural tourism, industry and higher education through its university campus, but has increasingly diversified through newer industries such as automotive, telecommunications, electronics, and timber transformation – the latter sector particularly through Finsa, which already has a successful UK base in Wirral.

Paula Basnett said: "As a growing and proactive Chamber of commerce we are always looking to develop new international links on behalf of our membership and the Wirral business community.

"By meeting with our colleagues in the Santiago chamber of commerce and a number of local Galician businesses this week we can now start building and developing these relationships.

“To help our businesses compete globally is a key goal within the Wirral Chamber of Commerce delivery plan, an important objective so we can provide the strongest support to our membership, Wirral and the region to grow the economy, investment opportunities, trade links and create employment."

The international link with Santiago de Compostela follows recent Memorandum of Understandings signed with the Chinese City of Taicang General Chamber of Commerce, the Isle of Man, together with a Sister City Agreement with the City of Reno in Nevada.