The Lord Mayor’s key responsibility is
to support the City of London as one of the world’s leading
international finance centres. The 'City brand' includes all UK
financial services centres, such as: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol,
Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Norwich, Manchester, and other
parts of London beyond the Square Mile.
Promoting Financial Services Overseas
After consultation with City businesses, the
Foreign & Commonwealth Office and UK Trade and Investment, the
Lord Mayor visits some 20 countries a year promoting UK-based
financial services. Click here for the Lord Mayor's
programme of overseas visits.
The purpose is to encourage growing economies
to raise capital in London; to open up new markets for city
businesses, and to open doors at the highest levels for the
accompanying business delegation.
In private meetings and speeches, the Lord
Mayor expounds the values of liberalisation and expands on those
factors which have underpinned London’s success, such
as probity and transparency, open markets, corporate
governance, Common Law, welcome for skilled people from around the
world, support for innovation, proportionate taxation and
regulation.
The links forged by his business delegation are
made increasingly valuable by the growing international
participation in the City and in British manufacturing industry.
The UK financial services industry is a major source of employment
and is the greatest wealth generator in Greater London. It is a
highly international operation and 40% of the workforce within the
City are employed by overseas companies.
Find out more about
A Typical Day Overseas; and
read what businesses have to say about the trips.
Promoting Financial Services In London:
In London the Lord Mayor, as head of the City
Corporation, provides hospitality for visiting heads of state,
Ministers and other senior business VIPs either at Guildhall or
Mansion House.
The Lord Mayor makes many visits throughout the
UK to keep him in tune with regional economic
activity, and to promote the contribution the City can
make in partnership with the rest of the country.