Sir Digby Jones - DG CBI

Global Competitiveness

Global economy growing rapidly and others working hard. Doha development is about globalisation. Globalisation id an opportunity not a threat.

We can gain from low costs suppliers. "China wants your lunch, India wants your dinner"

[Lots more stuff about global markets, dig at the French, mention of offshoring].

We need digital Britain - commodity services will no longer be provided by UK. Need to drive up the value chain. It's about richer interaction - better integration - quicker response to customers. Closeness is important to generating value - much better than protectionism.

Survey of CBI members - e-business - best practice evidence and lots to do. Leading companies are transforming their businesses - online and better working practices. Online engagement is developing new exchanges. But more SMEs need to be involved.

Extensive broadband available but what about services? Many SMEs are sceptical about services. Too much focus on consumer markets (music, video, porn) but business id important.

Ofcom seen as doing well by businesses. We have flexibility and we can make rapid developments. But there's too much protectionism in Europe - TV without frontiers, example of Germany. Commission is part of the problem. Needs to stop working towards 1970. The i2010 programme needs to be driven forward and include Parliament - needs buy-in across the EU.

Self-regulation and risk-based regulation is an important aspect. The time for monopolies and protectionism is over. Need to make sure that value chain is clear and open to competition.

We are seeing radical transformation in business through technology. Need to match and even outdo our international competition. Need to optimise our ability to compete - through our flexibility and trading abilities.

Need to help others to adapt to the new world - need to espouse broadband and the services it can bring. People are frightened by globalisation and we need to bring them along with us.