By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
London, one of the world's most attractive global business centers, is expected to enjoy robust growth in the years to come. Much of the credit for it's economic success goes to the city's foreign investment attraction agency, Think London.
The organization's head says strong partnerships with the business community are essential for any city to become a business center.
``I think much of the success of London's efforts to promote itself as business location is due to the partnership between the government and the business community,'' said Michael Charlton, chief executive of Think London, in an interview with The Korea Times. ``Business wants to talk to business,'' he says, adding that the agency seeks to become a vehicle linking businesses in and out of the city.
Charlton came to Seoul to meet Korean business leaders and to co-host a session with the Korean Trade Investment Promotion Agency to advise companies on how they can benefit from investing in London.
The best way to sell London as a business location is to let business communities work together and promote the city to other businesses from the very beginning, he said.
With such relationships, London has found solutions to offer practical assistance to businesses and attract more direct foreign investment.
Charlton also said that the city's appearance is a key to competitiveness. London will become even more attractive as it carries out massive regeneration projects for businessmen, tourists and its citizens, Charlton said.
Mimicking London's Canary Wharf's recently successful regeneration project, Seoul is also pushing for various redesigning projects to become a hub city. Charlton said that the appearance of a city is a very important ingredient for the attraction of tourists and investors.
``I think the look and feel of the city is incredibly important whether you are a business visitor or a tourist. There is a very effective partnership between the London city government and business community, making sure that the environment is encouraging to businesses and tourists,'' he said.