The FINANCIAL — “British companies have been successfully operating in Georgia for a long time, making a significant contribution to the local economy. I hope that we can build on this, and forge even stronger commercial links between our countries,” newly appointed British Ambassador Judith Gough told Georgian businessmen last week at a reception hosted by Karen Moran, the British Deputy Head of Mission. The previous Ambassador, Denis Keefe who served for 3 years, left the office late in June, moving to Moscow.
In her address, Ms Judith Gough spoke about her past experience, background, and the foreign policy priorities of the new British Government, including its ambition to put greater emphasis on business and trade promotion.
Ms Gough joined the FCO in 2001 from Ernst and Young, where she worked as a Senior Management Consultant specialising in Financial Services and Emerging Markets.
Her first role in the FCO was as Desk Officer for Gibraltar, after which she went on to be Head of the Albania, FYR Macedonia and Balkans Strategic Policy Team.
From 2004 to 2007 Ms Gough was posted to Seoul as Political Counsellor during which time she was head of Chancery as well as being responsible for Press and Public Affairs and Economic issues. On her return to London in 2007 Ms Gough became Deputy Director of the Shared Services Programme, responsible for designing future models for a more cost-efficient FCO.
Since 2008 Ms Gough has been Deputy Head of the Security Policy Group, with responsibility for arms control, nuclear disarmament and international security, including managing the UK’s participation in the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
The new British Ambassador Judith Gough arrived in Georgia on 4 September, 2010, meeting with different government and business representatives in the following days.
The Ambassador welcomes strong British-Georgian relations and highlights the potential of further developing business opportunities between the two countries.
“I have received a very warm welcome from Georgia in the week that I have been here,” Judith Gough told Georgian businessmen. It’s a very exciting time to be in Georgia. I am getting a real sense of energy and opportunity and that’s quite something, especially against the very difficult economic climate globally. I’m very passionate about continuing our support for Georgia’s democratisation process and the search for peaceful resolution of the conflicts.”
“Wherever I go in the world I know there will be some businessmen or businesswomen that are exceptionally good at conducting business, which has resulted in some very interesting situations for me. One example is when I was in the middle of North Korea, and I met a businessman running a tour company. So by the same token I see an entrepreneurial spirit which we all have and that’s why we (the UK) are the 6th largest economy with a preeminent financial market where we’re still leaders in finance, oil and gas, in manufacturing industries, etc.”
“I’m very excited by the amount of British activity going on in Georgia, and I want to see more of that. British companies have been successfully operating in Georgia for a long time, making a significant contribution to the local economy. I hope that we can build on this, and forge even stronger commercial links between our countries.”
“When British companies are doing business overseas, they also get to know and invest in local economies and communities. And I know that a lot of work goes on here as well as all over the world in terms of investing in local communities.”
“In terms of me, I’m a slightly unusual British Ambassador in a number of ways, as I started out as a management consultant, 6 very happy years. In the past decade I’ve been working as a diplomat. I hope that my commercial background will be useful here, and I’m still very interested in the role of Ambassador as it isn’t just about foreign policy but is I think increasingly becoming more and more commercial with its trade links. As we now in fact have a new government in the UK elected back in May, when I saw the Prime Minister and former Secretary in July they were very clear that the role of Ambassador is to go out, look at British exports, emerging markets, securing access to resources, sustainable growth, and prosperity. And that’s very much what my objectives are here, thus improving prosperity not only in the UK but in Georgia as well,” she said.
The previous Ambassador, Denis Keefe who served for 3 years, left the office late in June, moving to Moscow. Mr. Keefe was actively involved in the democratisation processes and peaceful resolution of conflicts in Georgia. He took important steps when working with the Georgian Government about a new action plan of engagement with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
He also contributed to the improvement of social life, carrying out sports relief programmes in addition to raising money for infant houses.
Promoting business overseas and establishing new trade links is a key priority for British Embassies around the world.
• Britain is ranked by The Economist as the best place in Europe to do business;
• Britain is home to the world’s leading financial centre;
• Britain is the world’s 6th largest manufacturer; it is a global leader in creative industries, media and sport;
• Britain is one of the world’s leading locations for commercial and academic Research and Development (the UK is ranked as having the second strongest research base in the world behind only the US. Over 200 R&D investment projects were made by international companies in the UK in 2008/09);
• Britain hosts Europe’s largest ICT (Information and Communications Technology) industry.
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