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22/07/2010
PM Calls For More Foreign Trade Investment
Prime Minister David Cameron has called for British foreign policy to be more focused on promoting UK businesses abroad and winning trade and investment deals.
Speaking in New York on the last day of his first trip to the US as Prime Minister, Mr Cameron announced that he was appointing a civil servant with expertise in business to head the Foreign Office.
Simon Fraser will be the new Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office. Mr Fraser has been the top civil servant at the Department for Business since May 2009 and has been described by the Prime Minister as "Britain's leading expert on trade in the civil service".
The Prime Minister also said that a commercial director would also be appointed.
He told reporters: "I want to refashion British foreign policy, the Foreign Office, to make us much more focused on the commercial aspects... making sure we are demonstrating Britain is open for business.
"i think it is a big opportunity. As we come out of recession and into recovery we have got to pay our way in the world and I want to reorientate the Foreign Office to be much more commercially-minded.
"I want us to be much more focused on winning order for British business overseas, attracting inward investment back into Britain.
"This is extremely important for Britain as we come out of recession and go into recovery."
(KMcA)
Speaking in New York on the last day of his first trip to the US as Prime Minister, Mr Cameron announced that he was appointing a civil servant with expertise in business to head the Foreign Office.
Simon Fraser will be the new Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office. Mr Fraser has been the top civil servant at the Department for Business since May 2009 and has been described by the Prime Minister as "Britain's leading expert on trade in the civil service".
The Prime Minister also said that a commercial director would also be appointed.
He told reporters: "I want to refashion British foreign policy, the Foreign Office, to make us much more focused on the commercial aspects... making sure we are demonstrating Britain is open for business.
"i think it is a big opportunity. As we come out of recession and into recovery we have got to pay our way in the world and I want to reorientate the Foreign Office to be much more commercially-minded.
"I want us to be much more focused on winning order for British business overseas, attracting inward investment back into Britain.
"This is extremely important for Britain as we come out of recession and go into recovery."
(KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
