G8 business leaders call for concrete action at Leaders' Summit

OTTAWA, April 28 /CNW/ - Today the leaders of the largest business associations in the G8 met in Canada to release their input into the G8/G20 Leaders' Summits.

At a meeting of G8 business leaders, hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, these global business leaders presented the G8 Business Declaration that calls on the G8 and G20 governments to implement coordinated policies to restore confidence in global markets. To do so, they must institute a framework for sustainable recovery based on getting their own fiscal houses in order and reform of the global financial framework.

"The decisions made at the G8 and G20 summits will have an impact on every Canadian," says Shauneen Bruder, Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada's largest business lobby group. "The ability of our political leaders to make the right choices depends on the business community's input. Canadian government and Canadian business must be at the table effectively influencing the consensus view on how to move forward."

"While all G8 business members adopt this statement, two examples of Canada's leadership are that it addresses our priorities for a global peer-reviewed, principle-based financial framework and ensuring international agreement on a non-discriminatory energy mix", says Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber.

International trade is a cornerstone for sustainable growth in both the developed and developing world. All parties know what is needed and it is now time to move from empty commitments to completion of the WTO Doha Round. Action on the WTO along with removing protectionist barriers; a sound investment environment; and protection of intellectual property can provide the needed business environment for the recovery to fully take hold and businesses, and jobs, to flourish.

While the G8 business leaders recognize that climate change is not part of the official agendas at the Leaders' Summits, we draw attention to our united stand that an international agreement is needed for achieving targets for greenhouse gas emissions and business certainty.

The G8 Business Declaration will be signed by all G8 business leaders on Wednesday, April 28, and is available at Chamber.ca.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Confindustria (Italy), the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), Nippon Keidanren (Japan), Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) and BUSINESSEUROPE represent the voice of millions of businesses in the G8. This is the fourth year they have come together to provide guidance to their presidents/prime ministers by developing a joint consensus position on key global issues.

For further information: Kathryn Anderson, Cell: [phone], [email protected]