WTO Ministers, at their Seventh Ministerial Conference, in Geneva, announced that the eight-year-old Doha Round negotiations should be concluded quickly. BIAC applauds this statement as it has long called for a conclusion of the Doha Round trade negotiations.

“In the face of the current financial and economic crisis, lack of access to credit continues to negatively impact companies’ ability to create jobs and ease the jobs crisis,” said BIAC Secretary General Tadahiro Asami in advance of the OECD Employment and Labour Ministerial meeting taking place this week in Paris. “While Government stimulus measures have had positive impacts, long term recovery will not be achieved though continued subsidies, income support or public sector job creation alone. The goal must be a return to sustainable enterprise creation, which is the necessary basis for sustainable job creation.”

As leaders continue to face the challenges of addressing the global financial and economic crisis, Business leaders will address OECD Ministers today and tomorrow in support of the expected OECD Green Growth initiative as well as to urge the Organisation to develop “exit strategies” from crisis-related government measures.

As global leaders continue to face the challenges of addressing the global financial and economic crisis, over 150 international business and government policy decision makers met today to explore and discuss how the OECD and the international business community are working together to promote open markets and job creation.

"Business remains committed to addressing climate change as a top priority and supports governments’ efforts for a successful outcome of the Copenhagen climate change conference,” said BIAC Secretary General Tadahiro Asami in advance of travelling to Syracuse, Italy for a 22 April consultation with G8 Environment Ministers.

International business urges the G20 leaders to take credible action to keep markets open for international trade and investment and through this contribute to global economic recovery.

In anticipation of the 5th World Water Forum to be held in Istanbul, March 16-22, business leaders from BIAC and one of its Turkish member organisations, TUSIAD, called on policymakers to swiftly develop and implement fact-based and data-driven policy measures to meet the rapidly growing investment needs of water infrastructure and services.

International business urges the political leaders of the economies represented in the G20 to prevent a further accentuation of the world economic crisis by working to keep markets open and avoiding trade and investment protectionism.

Thomas Bata, owner of global shoe corporation that bears his name and life-long business advocate for the development of countries, has died in Toronto only weeks before his 94th birthday. Business and government leaders from around the world expressed sadness and regret at the news of Bata’s passing on 1 September, recalling his vitality, energy and dedication as the key factors for his success.

Ministers have taken the important step to reaffirm the principles from the 1998 OECD Ottawa Ministerial that allowed a platform for electronic commerce to evolve into a platform for all aspects of life over the last 10 years,” declared Mr. Peter Robinson, President and CEO of the United States Council for International Business.

Business stresses the needed policy framework conditions and stakeholder consultation that are required to foster greater economic growth, communication, and understanding across all societies.

U.S. President George W. Bush praised a new era in US-European ties in a speech delivered at the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

“Governments must avoid hastily conceived new regulations on sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) in their efforts to diminish recent rising public criticism against these investment vehicles,” said Mr. Tadahiro Asami, Secretary General of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC). “Increased international co-operation, transparency and governance are the keys to successfully alleviating fears and building the trust necessary to permit the positive contributions that SWFs can provide to our economies.”