Actually, GBRI stands for Global Business Research Initiative, and to call it the brainchild of my good friend Syed Kamall somewhat exaggerates its current level of development. The enterprise is now hardly more than a strand of intellectual DNA.
Mission
– The GBRI exists to promote a greater public understanding of the role of business in spreading prosperity across the globe.
The GBRI’s Work
– Our initial work will concentrate on barriers to free trade.
– We will identify and expose human and cultural barriers to trade, as well as traditional barriers such as tariffs.
– We aim to educate people about different business cultures across the world.
– We will publish the work of leading businessmen, economists and policy thinkers from across the globe.
– We will also seek to promote new, young intellectual talent and fresh perspectives.
And so on. A few more bullet points follow. If all I knew of the GBRI was the small amount of verbiage currently on offer at its website, I’d be saying: could mean anything and probably means nothing. However, I had supper with Syed yesterday evening at his home and it all sounded decidedly promising. The Internet has massively reduced the costs in cash, office space, time and emotional wear-and-tear of running something like the GBRI, and Syed is not merely enthusiastic; he is also capable and not given to exaggeration. So I too am optimistic, and will keep you posted of developments, as and when.
