Israeli Minister of Finance, Binyamin Netanyahu who arrived in London from the US, met with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Minister Jack Straw on Thursday. PM Blair expressed praise for the economic steps recently decided on by the Israeli government.
Later that day, the Minister met with his British counterpart, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. During the course of the meeting, Brown informed Netanyahu of his willingness to send to Israel a delegation of professionals from the British government to advise and assist the Israeli government with privatizing public services.
Brown presented to Netanyahu the local model for public corporation management; this refers to partial privatization where the government takes a partner from the private sector to manage the corporation, while continuing to hold some of the shares in order to protect public interests. This is how, for example, the British underground system is run.
Brown added another example, of private entrepreneurs who build and manage hospitals for the government, while the government health system is charged with the medical administration.
In answer to Netanyahu's request Brown announced that he would support Israel in its efforts to join the OECD in the future. In response Netanyahu said: "Your support will be of great assistance in advancing the matter". Brown also declared his willingness to help the region become economically viable, in answer to which Netanyahu said he would soon raise several proposals for regional projects that would serve to improve the economic situation. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
