A NUMBER of leading companies with strong Anglo-Irish links have come together to form the first ever British Irish Chamber of Commerce.

The move has been supported by the British embassy in Dublin, which is keen to promote trade and investment between the countries.

The chamber held its first meeting on February 11th at the Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge.

It is understood that it has already received support from supermarket giant Tesco, drinks group Diageo, HSBC bank, insurer Aviva, electrical goods maker Glen Dimplex, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Eircom.

Fergal Naughton, executive director with Glen Dimplex and the son of the company’s co-founder Martin, has taken the chain as interim president.

Formal elections are expected to take place in May.

Mr Naughton said the chamber would be an “important link” in the ongoing development of business between Britain and Ireland.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the British embassy here in Dublin, the Irish embassy in London and state agencies who have done so much to develop the strong economic links we enjoy today,” he added.

Julian King, Britain’s ambassador to Ireland, said the trade relationship between the two countries was vital.

“Now more than ever both economies will be looking to exports and there are significant opportunities in both markets as well as potential to further develop our relationship,” Mr King said.

The establishment of the chamber is seen as significant in the context of the expected visit later this year by Queen Elizabeth.

Britain is Ireland’s biggest export market, worth about €13.5 billion annually. Ireland is the UK’s fifth largest export market.

Mr King and Ireland’s ambassador in London, Bobby McDonagh, will be honorary presidents of the new chamber.