[A2k] UK Finance and Trade Ministers to be advised by Bill Gates ,Jean - Pierre Garnier and others

[Michelle Childs]

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./newsroom_and_speeches/press/2006/press_19_20=
06.cfm


21 March 2006


Chancellor establishes International Business Advisory Council for the UK

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, today announced that he
has established a new International Business Advisory Council for the UK
comprising some of the world=92s leading business people.

The Council will advise the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Trade
and Industry, Alan Johnson, over the next three years on how to respond
to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation to ensure the UK
continues to be one of the top locations for international companies=92
high value-added activity.

The Council=92s first members are renowned internationally for their
expertise and have first-hand experience of global business across a
range of sectors and regions.

Gordon Brown said:

=93There is no more important question for advanced industrial countries
today than how to rise to the challenges and opportunities of
globalisation. In Britain we have strong foundations, built on
macroeconomic stability, openness to competition and trade, and
investment in infrastructure, science and skills.

=93But we must do more. I am delighted that some of the world=92s leading
business people have agreed to join this new Advisory Council. The
Council will advise on how we can do more to rise to the challenges we
face and ensure that the UK remains one of the world=92s key locations of
choice for high value-added activity, working together to pursue a less
protectionist world.=94

Alan Johnson said:

"Meeting the challenges and opportunities of globalisation is at the
heart of our drive to create the conditions for business success.
Science and innovation is a key priority which is why we invest =A33.4
billion every year in this vital area. We need to be competitive on
ideas and knowledge. Working with business has always been central to
our policy-making and the establishment of the International Business
Advisory Council will further cement that relationship.=94

The first members of the Council are:

Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO, LVMH
Lord Browne, Group Chief Executive, BP
Dr Jean-Pierre Garnier, CEO, GlaxoSmithKline
Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Corporation
Sir Ka-shing Li, Chairman of the Board, Hutchison Whampoa Ltd
Sir Terry Leahy, CEO, Tesco
Sir John Rose, CEO, Rolls Royce
Robert Rubin, Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee,
Citigroup Inc
Lee Scott, President and CEO, Wal-Mart
Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group
Meg Whitman, President and CEO, eBay
James Wolfensohn, Special Envoy for Disengagement and Former President
of the World Bank


Notes to Editors

1. The Council will meet once a year at 11 Downing Street. Their first
meeting will be later this year. It will run for three years initially.

2. The Council will discuss policies to improve UK competitiveness,
including specific issues relating to the globalisation challenge.

3. Media enquiries to HM Treasury Press Office on 020 7270 5188.

4. Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury
Correspondence and Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558, or by e-mail to
public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk
<mailto:public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk>

5. This press release and other Treasury publications and information
are available on the Treasury website at www.hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk
<http://www.hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk/>. If you would like Treasury press
releases to be sent to you automatically by e-mail you can subscribe to
this service from the press release site on the website.

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Michelle Childs, Head of European Affairs.
 michelle.childs@cptech.org. www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology in London, 24 Highbury Crescent, London,
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