Mike Whitby says Birmingham perfect for G20 summit
BIRMINGHAM City council leader Mike Whitby said Birmingham is the perfect location for the G20 summit in April.
“Getting any event in Birmingham is crucial, but the G20 is essential,” he added.
His comments came after Tom Watson MP pressed for the West Midlands to be chosen as the venue for the UK-hosted summit.
It would be Barack Obama’s first major international summit, where world leaders gather to discuss the economic crisis.
Coun Whitby said he had already invited Mr Obama after meeting him in 2005 on a trip to Chicago, twinned with Birmingham.
“I had breakfast with Barack in 2005 and we had a great conversation. About a month ago I wrote to him wishing him luck in the US presidential elections and inviting him to visit Birmingham.”
He said Birmingham has proven itself as an ideal location for political events.
“The G20 Summit would follow so closely to the Conservative conference in Birmingham where so many ambassadors were left impressed,” he said.
Coun Whitby, who has just returned from a trip to China to promote the city, said Birmingham had a “global reputation”.
“This is a welcoming city and the members of the G20 are the countries I have targeted – China and India,” he said. “The summit will be good for the city’s economy and remind people the UK is more than one city, it’s not all about London, we have a lot to offer too.”
He said Birmingham’s International Convention Centre would be an ideal location for the summit and the city’s hotels, shops, bars and restaurants would also benefit from it.
