A very intensive and productive week in London for the B3CF Executive Team. We participated in many events during the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and Commonwealth Business Forum 2018.

On Tuesday, 6th February 2018, the B3CF Members and invited guests enjoyed a fireside chat on Brexit, Education and Culture at the British Ambassador's Residence in Helsinki. The event, featuring Sir David Green and the British Ambassador Mr Tom Dodd, was organised by British Embassy Helsinki in collaboration with Finnish Institute in London and British & Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce in Finland.

Think Africa, Afrolynk and amplaffy with the support of Slush Global Impact Accelerator (GIA) and the British & Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce in Finland Ry (B3CF) organised an exciting Slush side event. Participants met at our offices in Helsinki the Slush GIA African startup teams and hub managers coming from Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia. 

At the invitation of the British & Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce in Finland, HRH Prince Michael of Kent visited Finland from 25 to 28.09.2017 along with the Genesis Initiative business delegation from the UK, COBCOE and The Royal Commonwealth Society.

On 14th September 2017, members of the B3CF enjoyed a day full of off-road experience and fun.

Our traditional Garden Party took place on the last day of Summer 2017 at Villa Haikko.

The first of what we hope will be many Commonwealth Golf Day took place on Thursday 25th May 2017 and by all reports was a great event for everyone. This private, 43-player event was organised by the British & Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce in Finland in cooperation with The Royal Commonwealth Society Nordic-Baltic Hub at Tapiola Golf, a new 18 holes inland links course located only 15 minutes from Helsinki City centre. 

The drinking of tea not only became a social event for the B3CF members, it is also an opportunity to meet the  Commonwealth Resident Ambassadors to Finland to discuss various business opportunities in countries they represent. In May 2017, our traditional Ambassadors' Afternoon Tea took a place at the British Ambassador's Residence in Helsinki.

In April 2017, during the India-Finland Joint Commission meetings in Helsinki, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Embassy of Finland in India, the Embassy of India in Finland, Finpro and the B3CF organised a series of India-themed events.

The second week of March 2017 was full of activities for the B3CF Executive Team, travelled to celebrate Commonwealth Day and attend various events during Commonwealth week in London, UK.

On 28th February 2017 new and long-standing B3CF members met at our traditional monthly get-together at the Hard Rock Cafe in Helsinki. During our networking event B3CF Members presented their companies to our network. 

For the first time ever, the birthday supper and programme in honour of the Scottish national poet Robert Burns was held at Haikko Manor, near Porvoo, on 27th January 2017.

Every last Tuesday of the month members and friends of the B3CF gather together in a special venue somewhere in Helsinki for intelligent networking through a sophisticated social event. On 29th November we invited our members and friends to the Annual Dinner in the Hard Rock Cafe Helsinki for celebration of our success and achievements gained by the B3CF, its Executive Team, and the Board in 2016.

In October 2016 the B3CF team went to London to cement relations and discuss new plans with strategic partners and stakeholders including COBCOE, The Commonwealth Secretariat, The Royal Commonwealth Society, and The Genesis Initiative. The opportunities and plans discussed during our meetings are now being integrated in B3CF's development strategy for 2017.

On 5th October 2016 our special guest Bruce Dear, Partner and Head of EVERSHEDS London real estate group, shed light to UK market situation and specifically on Investing in the UK after BREXIT Referendum result. In this seminar we identified some of the possibilities and Brexit risks that businesses should be considering now and the steps that they should be taking.

The afternoon was full of activities, including the new Jaguar F-Pace presentation from our Business Partner, Inchcape Motors Finland (Jaguar Land Rover), Darts Competition, Prize Raffle, Indian Music and Food, and beautiful flowers and decoration from Ihana Kukkanen Kauniainen. Guests had the opportunity to test out the new cars to suit them, with the Prize of a F-Pace weekend experience won by John Klang!

Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March. This year’s theme - An Inclusive Commonwealth - celebrates the diversity of the Commonwealth, which is made up of more than two billion people. Every one of them is different, and each of them has something unique to offer.