Top names join UK’s global business council

The government has launched a new International Business Advisory Council for the UK, which comprises some of the world's leading business people.

The council’s main responsibility will be to advise chancellor Gordon Brown and secretary of state for trade and Industry Alan Johnson on how to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation.

It is hoped the council’s advice will help ensure that the UK continues to be one of the top locations for international companies' high value-added activity.

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

Initial members include Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, Dr Jean-Pierre Garnier, chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline, Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy, Lee Scott, president of American chain store Wal-Mart and Robert Rubin, chairman of the executive committee at Citigroup Inc.

“I am delighted that some of the world's leading business people have agreed to join this new advisory council,” the chancellor said.

“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.”