Setting the pace
Each regional chairman of Conservative Business Relations initiates activities in their patch. Two nights ago it was a reception in the Egyptian Embassy, at the behest of the London CBR chairman Paul Shea.
Sayeeda Warsi, just off the plane from Khartoum spoke, as well as John Redwood, and of course the ambassador. It was a hugely well attended event, with a tremendous atmosphere. Already we have had receptions in the Pakistani, Indian and Canadian High Commissions. There are always business people present who have links to the respective countries.
Egypt has liberalised its economy; the UK is the biggest non-Arab investor there. The Egyptian Government has set up nine public free zones in an attempt to attract more foreign capital. These zones provide business with a protected status which reduces the risk associated with the investment.
Business people survey the deteriorating state of the British economy, the incompetence of the Government, and want increasingly to be associated with the Conservatives. We, in turn, want to listen to them, and are doing so in a professional and targeted way. CBR is booming.