NEW DELHI, 22 January 2008 — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday called for a change in the makeup of international organizations to make them more representative. “We can and must do more to make our global institutions more representative,” Brown said in a speech to the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce.
“I support India’s bid for a permanent place — with others — on an expanded United Nations Security Council. I support changes to the World Bank, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and G-8 that reflect the rise of India and rise of Asia,” Brown said.
Referring to financial turbulence spreading out of the United States, Brown laid stress on it being imperative for the World Bank and IMF to prevent such crises rather than resolve them later. “We have to find new ways of dealing with global financial turbulence,” the prime minister said.
With India doubling its income in the last 15 years and becoming the fourth largest producer of medicine and the second largest developer of software in the world, Brown said: “No global company can be truly global unless it has operations based in India.”
Brown was conferred a doctorate degree by Delhi University in recognition of his achievements in the field of academics and public services. Vice President Hamid Ansari, who is also the chancellor of the university, presented the degree to Brown at a special convocation. The degree was awarded to Brown for his “deep commitment to human values,” University Vice Chancellor Deepak Paintal said.
Brown is visiting New Delhi with a large delegation of British business leaders after spending two days in China, on his first trip to Asia as prime minister. His whirlwind tour has focused on expanding trade and investment and on cooperation in controlling climate change.
While India is at least 10 years behind China in terms of its development profile, many Western business leaders believe that its growth opportunities are potentially much bigger.
The two countries both have populations in excess of 1 billion, but India’s burgeoning middle class — among which English is more widely spoken than in China — is bolstering foreign interest amid potential market reform.
“It is amazing to see first hand the astonishing pace of change in India,” Brown said yesterday. “There is a prize for all of us in a confident 21st century India, working with a confident 21st century Britain in a partnership of equals.”
Among the Indian leaders Brown met yesterday were President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and leader of opposition Lal Krishna Advani.
— Additional input from agencies
