From Our Foreign Correspondent

Liveryman Andrew Pound recently departed for the warmer climes of Dubai. He reports that currently on an official tour of the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Lord Mayor Michael Bear was the guest of honour in Dubai at a lunch and reception at the Cass Business School, part of City University, of which he is Chancellor. Interestingly, besides being Lord Mayor, Sir John Cass was both Alderman and Sherrif of the ward of Portsoken, which is today represented by Michael Bear.

 Andrew was able to put to him a question about the lessons the City of London could share with the countries in the Gulf region.  The Lord Mayor highlighted that London remained at the top of the World Bank's ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’, and cited the progress made by UK firms to embrace better corporate governance, diversity and transparency initiatives like the OFR. He contrasted this with the Gulf countries ranking 40-50 and said he believed that UK firms could help local companies who sought to promote greater transparency in business.
 
Over drinks the Lord Mayor expressed his gratitude to the Marketors for their generous donation to his appeal - the first livery company to make a donation.
 
Sheriff Fiona Woolf, accompanying the Lord Mayor on the visit, fondly remembered the charter ceremony and wanted particularly to compliment the Company on its website. When preparing for her speech she had found it packed full of information, especially surrounding the more scientific side of marketing measurement. It was an eye-opener for her, and reinforced her belief in the valuable role that the modern livery companies have to play. The flag is clearly flying strongly for the Company in the Middle East