Lord Digby Jones stumped for more U.S. investment in Great Britain during a luncheon meeting with about 40 Denver business leaders Tuesday.
“If you want to build a global business, the best place to do it is from Great Britain,” said Jones, minister of state in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
The nation’s assets include a competitive tax rate, minimal labor regulations and its time zone, and “we speak American,” he said.
Among those attending the luncheon at the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce were executives from U.S. Bank, Molson Coors and United Airlines.
Jones, minister of state for the past seven months under the government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has traveled the world meeting with business and political leaders.
He offered some straight talk about U.S. protectionism in the airline industry and, since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, its immigration policies.
He said Great Britain is benefiting by taking international students the U.S. is turning away, because those students in the years ahead will be leaders in countries that are desirable to do business with. Instead of having a cultural connection to the U.S., the future leaders will have a connection with Great Britain, he said.
In the 21st century, the U.S. will cede its economic and military supremacy, he predicted.
“The world will be utterly different, because your economy will have rivals you’ve never had before,” Jones said.
Militarily, he said no one will take on the U.S. directly. Insurgents, however, will find success in the streets and jungles.
He said where the U.S. can achieve supremacy in the future is by showing it has the moral high ground.
Steve McMillan: 303-954-1695 or smcmillan@denverpost.com
