The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is creating, for the first time, short-term attachments for businessmen and women at diplomatic posts overseas to boost British exports and Jobs, says BSS.

The British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook MP, made this announcement in London recently, British High Commission said here yesterday.

The first attachments will start this autumn. Each at-

tachment will have a specific focus such as privatisation, inward Investment, management of commercial promotions, marketing of UK financial services. or identifying market opportunities in specific sectors.

Cook said, "we made a commitment in our business manifesto to improve the focus of our efforts to back British business selling abroad, to enhance the coordination of government trade and investment promotion. and to promote business

secondments with the FCO. This rolling programme of attachments is a practical first step towards strengthening our partnership with business?

He went on to say, "I am delighted that we now have commitments from a number of leading companies to loan members of their staff to the FCO to work on specific promotions or projects overseas for periods of a tew months, bringing their valuable expertise to support our commercial work overseas."

The Foreign Secretary welcomed the wholehearted support of the Confederation of British Industries (CBD for this initiative.

Sir Colin Marshall. President of the CB1, said, "it is essential for business and government to work together if we are to win in overseas markets and continue to attract high levels of inward investment. I am delighted to support this imaginative scheme to bring more direct business expertise Into the trade and investment promotion activities of British missions overseas."

The foreign office has 218 British diplomatic posts in 140 markets, Including Bangladesh, which have commercial sections working to support British Commerce and Industry.

British Airways. COC (British Oxygen), ICL, Wimpey, British Aerospace. British Telecom (BT). British Steel. British Nuclear Fuel Ltd (BNFL). Bupa, Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC land Glaxo Wellcome have agreed to participate. Other companies have

' expressed a strong Interest