LONDON, Jan 3: The President of Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Martin Broughton, has said that the Doha round of world trade talks needed to be resolved in 2007 with meaningful movement on both side of the Atlantic to end the impasse, particularly on agricultural subsidies and on foreign market access.

“Failure to deliver will jeopardise the chances of developing countries to prosper while causing many to pull back from a global free trade agreement and retreat in damaging and unsustainable national protectionism,” he maintained.

Discussing his community’s concern about terrorist attacks Mr Broughton asked the government to strike the right balance when protecting security of the business firms and ‘not inadvertently stifle their ability to operate their business.’

According to a CBI press release on his first working day in his new role as the CBI president he warned that the expected transition to a new Prime Minister and a reinvigorated Conservative party seeking to carve out new political ground will create uncertainty for UK’s business during the current year.

The CBI president who is also the Chairman of British Airways also warned the politicians of all parties that they cannot afford to take the business sector for granted as they fight for the mainstream.

“Employers want to feel secure about the future when planning their long-term strategies and investments which bring jobs and prosperity to the UK,” he added.

However, the new year will herald a period of political change and manoeuvring, Mr Broughton said, which must not hold back moves to improve the UK’s international competitiveness.

He said: "As UK firms face intensifying global competition, stability on the domestic stage is increasingly important. The coming year will see significant changes in British politics. These will generate new opportunities for business, but will also create uncertainty as it tries to plan long-term investments and strategies amid the shifting political sands.

"Business will not be moved by party political grandstanding, but will react positively to initiatives which actually improve the ability of companies to get on with their job. Politicians cannot afford to take business for granted, any more than companies can take political or public trust for granted.

"The relationship between business and politicians is critical as the coming year sees legislation vital to UK competitiveness - ranging from skills to energy security and the planning system - coming before Parliament. This must not be derailed by politicians in pursuit of extra votes by taking a sideswipe at business, however unwitting."