Boris Johnson and Richard Barnes, London’s Deputy Mayor, have been meeting leading members of London’s Asian business community at a City Hall reception held to thank them for their contribution to the capital’s economy.
Mayor Johnson said his team “are working hard to help all London’s businesses so that they can weather the inevitable economic downturn” and promised that “London’s Asian business community which supports over 200,000 jobs will be a major focus of our work.”
London’s two most senior politicians were joined by Michael Geoghegan, Group Chief Executive of HSBC, who sponsored the reception as well as Tony Sarin, Chair of the Asian Business Association and Cobra Beer Chairman, Lord Karan Bilimoria.
Mr Geoghegan commented: “with nearly 2.5 million people in the UK having Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan origins, and 10 per cent of the UK’s GDP generated by Asian businesses, the contribution of this community is essential to the UK economy.”
The Mayor has promised to set out a detailed action plan for the capital’s economy next month.
