Global Trade Centre

About this item

The Global Trade Centre (GTC), founded by the late Bernie Grant MP in 1997 and based in Tottenham, was created to promote international trade as a way to boost local regeneration and employment. It supports small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in areas with high unemployment among Black and minority ethnic communities, by fostering trade links with their countries of origin. The GTC also aims to assist economically disadvantaged countries through sustainable trade and capacity-building rather than aid.

Key points:
– The GTC was established in Tottenham to address unemployment and economic disadvantage, especially in Black and minority ethnic communities.
– Bernie Grant saw local communities' cultural and linguistic ties as assets to develop international trade and economic growth.
– The Centre supports businesses from start-up through to market access and transaction completion.
– It promotes fair and sustainable trade relationships between the UK, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, focusing on mutual development.
– Under Bernie Grant's leadership until his death, the GTC expanded to South London and engaged in trade missions and capacity-building initiatives.

The Global Trade Centre reflects Bernie Grant’s commitment to economic regeneration, trade unionism, and internationalism by empowering Black British communities and their countries of origin through trade. It embodies his vision of sustainable development that moves beyond aid towards equitable economic partnerships, reinforcing his wider legacy in Black British political activism and local government leadership.

Source note: The OCR transcript is generally clear and detailed, allowing confident interpretation. Minor formatting inconsistencies are present but do not affect the overall meaning.