News and events

Council affirms position as leading representative for foreign firms

April 27, 2010

The Council of Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the United Kingdom affirmed its position as the representative organisation for its network of more than 10,000 foreign businesses in the UK when it met the Mayor of London at a reception hosted by City Hall, London on 9 March 2010. Florence Gomez, the acting chair of the CFCC, told Boris Johnson that there was an open invitation for him to consult her and CFCC members about matters that might affect business in London, or other issues such as the low carbon economy for London.

She likewise said the organisation was close to the continuing concerns of businesses in London and she would aim to bring those to his attention at suitable times.

The occasion for this breakthrough in business representation was a groundbreaking reception, where the guest of honour was Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London. This was the first time the Mayor had hosted such a meeting.

The reception was addressed by Ms Gomez who celebrated the enthusiasm of the 38 country members of the CFCC, noting that no less than 230 CEOs of blue chip companies attended the reception, representing 26 organisations. These came from countries as diverse as Japan, Canada, Russia, Turkey or Lithuania.

Boris Johnson, in his address to the CFCC, expressed his interest in the organisation and its key position as the representative of foreign businesses in London. He hailed London’s entrepreneurial cul ture and said that London had a thriving educational sector, that th e City of London was strong, despite the economic circumstances, tha t culture and theatres were burgeoning across the capital, that Lond on had the highest number of electric vehicles and that the streets of the capital were increasingly safer from crime.

London’s transport infrastructure would be enhanced by the building of CrossRail, a train system linking Heathrow with The City, Canary Wharf and Central London, and by developments to modernise the London Underground.

Finally, Mr Johnson celebrated the arrival of the Olympic Games to London in 2012, saying it would revitalise the neglected area of East London.

Available Speeches:

1- CFCC Chairman Mrs. Florence Gomez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My7_Q-wx0Us

2- Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnM62cmDpFA

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpT7BFc1b-8

Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8bcqCTAx04

Produced by:

Hannah Meloul
Corporate Communications Executive

French Chamber of Commerce in Great-Britain
Lincoln House, 300 High Holborn, London WC1V 7JH