By Andy McCue, 21 March 2006 14:30
NEWS
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is to advise the UK government on how to respond to the challenges of globalisation so it can compete with the fast-growing economies of China and India.
Gates has been appointed to a panel of 12 of the world's leading business people on a new International Business Advisory Council (Ibac) that will advise the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry over the next three years.
Other high-tech names on the Ibac include Meg Whitman, president and CEO of eBay; Ratan Tata, chairman of India's Tata Group; and Sir Ka-shing Li, chairman of the board at Hutchison Whampoa, which owns mobile operator 3.
They will sit alongside more traditional industrial leaders on the panel such as Sir Terry Leahy, CEO of Tesco; Lee Scott, president and CEO of Wal-Mart; and Lord Browne, group CEO of BP.
The Ibac will meet once per year. The first meeting will be held later this year at 11 Downing Street.
Brown said in a statement: "There is no more important question for advanced industrial countries today than how to rise to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation.
"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's key locations of choice for high value-added activity, working together to pursue a less protectionist world."
The Ibac's remit is to discuss policies to improve UK competitiveness, including specific issues relating to the globalisation challenge.
Comments
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1. Steve Berry
I wonder what Monsieur Gates input will be ?
1-How to effectively develop strategies to destroy the competition.
2-How to be "evasive" under scrutiny.
3-How to ensure this "advice" continues to promote Microsoft's "globalized" agenda.
What more do the UK Govt need to know ?
2. Richard
What about Manufacturing and the Creative Industries?
Apart from Lord Browne, these people are from the "services" and trading sector. Most employ relatively few UK staff.
Shouldn't the panel include Manufacturers? Currently, most consumer products are imported.
What about representatives of the "Creative Industries?" At present, the UK imports far too much of its entertainment: Films, TV, Video Games, Pop Music etc. etc.
3. anonymous
The mention of Bill Gates and Tony Blair in this month of the cash-for-peerages scandal naturally recalls the fact that Gates has made substantial donations to the UK (e.g. to Cambridge University) and has obtained an honorary knighthood.
I don't begrudge him that at all. What still intrigues me is how former IBM CEO also obtained an honorary knighthood. Nominally it was for services to education, but to my knowledge he had contributed nothing to UK education. (It certainly wasn't for services to UK employment, because he had cut thousands of IBM jobs in the UK.)
4. Jeremy Robinson
Bill Gates' duty is to maximise Microsoft shareholder value. Can we trust him to advise the british government in our best interests rather than in the interest of his shareholders, the US citizen and his own.
Did Bush bomb I-raq in the best interests of US citiziens, of Iraquis or of his cronies?
"Trust me - there are WMDs." - the USAf has lots.
5. Francis Kwadade-Cudjoe
I have always held the view that UK is very fast in responding to changing environmental conditions for human institutions. There are a lot to be gained from globalisation by UK gov't.
6. anonymous
Should we really be taking advice from a man who's company have been found guilty of antitrust in (at least) three different continents?
7. Charles Skinner
>>>Should we really be taking advice from a man who's company have been found guilty of antitrust in (at least) three different continents?<<<
Why don't you consider him the greatest philanthropist in the history of the WORLD who is directly responsible for saving millions of lives in countries that most of you pukes don't even care about. If Bill Gates isn't worthy of expressing valid opinions on globalization than no one is.