This time last year, the UK was looking forward to Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and hosting the Olympics and Paralympic Games.
I think most people would agree that they went tremendously well. 2013 promises to be busy in a different way, not least because the UK is taking on the Presidency of the G8.
The G8 is a group of like-minded nations who share a belief in free enterprise as the best route to growth. The G8’s members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK and the US, with the European Union also represented at meetings.
For those who believe the G20 has replaced the need for the G8, it is worth recalling that these eight countries make up around half of the world’s entire GDP. So the standards we set, the commitments we make and the steps we take can help solve vital global issues, fire up economies and drive prosperity all over the world.
The G8 Summit will take place in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, and will focus on developing open economies, open governments and open societies to advance trade, ensure financial compliance and promote greater transparency.
My Prime Minister David Cameron has set out his agenda in more detail in the following article on Huffington Post.
We will be working closely with both the African Union and Ethiopia during our G8 Presidency on a number of areas – not least the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative which I blogged about last month, Somalia, the New Alliance on Food Security and the Africa Clearing House.
The latter is about improving G8–AU co-ordination on peace and security matters. For the first time, this meeting will take place in Addis Ababa – an important step which highlights the growing importance of the AU.
Melkam ferengi Addis Amet – happy 2013 to all readers.
I must say that last year went extremely well. I think that the G8 sounds like it is going to be very promising and I really think that belief in free enterprise is the best route of growth for sure.
I wish you the same.