Tony Blair & Sir Ronald Cohen: Investing for Peace
TONY BLAIR & SIR RONALD COHEN: INVESTING FOR PEACE
On 26 May 2011 UK Israel Business and the Palestinian British Business Council jointly hosted Middle East Envoy Tony Blair in conversation with Portland Trust Chairman, Sir Ronald Cohen to discuss the importance of the role of economics in creating and maintaining peace and stability.
Both Sir Ronald and Tony Blair emphasised how mutual economic development is a vital precursor to and a mechanism for peace. Mr Blair highlighted that peace must be based on supporting 'the process of state building from the bottom up.' This not only boosts standards of living, but supports political moderates and counters ideological extremism. ‘There is an important role for business... The private sector on both sides is trying to work together even if politicians sometimes are not’ stated Mr Blair.
During the dialogue, Sir Ronald also highlighted the comparable size and population of the Palestinian Territory to Lebanon with its vastly superior economic output. The possibilities for future growth and business in the Palestinian Territory are therefore enormous. For too long, he noted, 'economics has been used as a weapon,' instead, it is vital that a 'shift in the role of economics towards being a means of peace' takes place.
https://www.portlandtrust.org/tony-blair-conversation-sir-ronald-cohen