23rd January 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The State of Gujarat, an hour’s flight north of Mumbai, can claim many important contributions to India. It was the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, another key leader of the independence movement and India’s first Home Minister, and Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the massive eponymous conglomerate, hails from Navsari in Gujarat. Gujarat […]
Read more on Vibrant Gujarat – attracting business from India and beyond | Reply
16th January 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
How can British companies best approach the Turkish market? Which sectors are most promising? Are there case studies? What on-line services are available? You can find the answers to all these questions and more in the splendid UK Trade and Investment in Turkey brochure. This includes: A summary of services which UKTI can provide to […]
Read more on How to do business in Turkey – and Britain | Reply
15th January 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A crowd of dynamic entrepreneurial types gathers in an Istanbul hotel. Outside, in the crowded streets, deals are being made, goods bought and sold, and a metropolitan economy larger than many entire EU member states is growing strongly. Inside, the business people are learning how the EU works, focusing on practical details such as double […]
Read more on How Istanbul, Izmir, Gaziantep and business are integrating Turkey into the EU | Reply
10th January 2013
Beirut, Lebanon
This week I was asked to speak at USEK, on ‘How Does Lebanon Succeed in the 21st Century?”. Tough audience, tough subject. Especially on the first day back, and after a night of epic storms (during which my sons had taken it in turns to wake me to tell me how frightened they were). In […]
Read more on Success in the 21st Century – Ten Questions for Lebanon 2020 | Reply (9)
28th December 2012
London, UK
For anyone who enjoys sitting down over the holidays and reading the newspapers, Christmas and New Year are open season for lists. And in 2012, there’s been a lot to talk about. We’ve seen colleagues from across Government emerging bleary-eyed from late-night negotiations in Brussels having won around new allies to our point of view, […]
Read more on List fever | Reply
27th December 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Shortly after the Romanian Government presented its programme I tweeted on @HMAMartinHarris my pick of the top five priorities to be taken forward in 2013. In five tweets: 1. Implementing the IMF agreement. RO has done well on fiscal consolidation. Now it’s time to progress on structural reforms and tax evasion. 2. Judicial reform. Implementing […]
Read more on My pick of Govt. priorities in 2013 | Reply (2)
21st December 2012
Washington DC, USA
According to Wikipedia, Prosperity is the state of flourishing, thriving, good fortune and / or successful social status. Prosperity often encompasses wealth but also includes others factors which are independent of wealth to varying degrees, such as happiness and health. It’s also (with a capital ‘P’) the word the Foreign Office uses to describe one […]
Read more on 2012 and all that. A GREAT year for Britain | Reply
19th December 2012
USA
I should confess that while I am not Scottish I would quite fancy being Scottish for a while. The Scots, like the Irish, are renowned for being people who love to live life to the fullest. They produce God’s finest water (Scottish whiskys are seeing their exports to the US and most others markets rocket […]
Read more on Scotland – it never ceases to surprise me | Reply
19th December 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
I recently wrote a blog about how to apply for Priority Business Visas. I’m pleased to say that UK Trade and Investment, supported by the UK Border Agency, have published an excellent guide to applying for a UK Business Visitor Visa in Turkey. It sets out five easy steps to apply for a visa; background on long-term […]
Read more on Guide to applying for UK Business Visitor Visas | Reply
14th December 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Where in the world can you buy Istanbul Pale Ale (IPA) with water made to a Burton on Trent recipe to wash down fish and chips made with beer batter? And why is 81 a good name for a beer in Turkey? I was delighted recently to be invited to the opening of the Bosphorus Brewing Company […]
Read more on When BBC stands for the Bosphorus Brewing Company | Reply (1)
