G8/20 business leaders call for concrete action at Leaders' Summit

OTTAWA, April 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Today the leaders of the largest business associations in the G8 and G20 met in Canada to discuss key global business issues in advance of the G8/G20 Leaders' Summits.

The G8/20 Business Summit, held at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec on April 29, featured highly respected and influential international business leaders addressing pressing business issues and bringing forward their thoughts and solutions. Leaders such as Fujio Mitarai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canon Inc.; Heather Ridout, Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group; Tom Donohue, President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders from G8 and G20 countries offered opinions on issues critical to the health of businesses around the world. On April 28, G8 business leaders signed the G8 Business Declaration, a document that calls on the G8 and G20 governments to implement coordinated policies to restore confidence in global markets. This input represents over one million businesses from the G8 countries. The declaration was formally presented to Prime Minister Stephen Harper by Shauneen Bruder, Chair of the Canadian Chamber, following the Prime Minister's speech and 'fireside chat' session with delegates on Thursday morning.

"Bombardier is a global corporation with deep Canadian roots. We are particularly pleased, therefore, to be able to sponsor these meetings of business leaders from G8 and G20 countries in Canada," said Pierre Beaudoin, President and CEO of Bombardier. "The global business community shares fully in the challenges facing the wider world. This unprecedented meeting among business leaders from the world's major economies provides an exceptional opportunity to help us to do so."

"This summit provides a tremendous opportunity for business leaders from the world's major economies to share views and ideas on a wide range of business issues and priorities," said Richard L. George, President and CEO of Suncor Energy. "When you look at how closely linked the global economy has become, you quickly understand the importance of working together to ensure we can all continue to enjoy economic growth and a high quality of life."

"There are a number of challenges facing the global financial system, including the prospect of nearly unprecedented regulatory reform across many jurisdictions. It is critical that reform be balanced and that it focus on the causes of the crisis. RBC is proud to collaborate with many other leading businesses in the G8/G20 Business Summit to contribute to the debate," said Barbara Stymiest, Group Head of Strategy, Treasury and Corporate Services, RBC.

"As we take bold steps to create smarter global management systems designed for inclusion, collaboration and transparency, it will be crucial to continue to share the ideas expressed in this key business Summit," said Bruce Ross, President, IBM Canada. "Today's dialogue on important economic issues such as trade liberalization, climate change and global governance reinforces the fact that we have the means to take action now and truly collaborate across business, government, academia and community boundaries to build a better world."

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, Director, Communications and Marketing, Office: [phone] (231), Cell: [phone], [email protected]