British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed a group of over 200 CEOs on Monday, expressing his support for businesses and asking for their help in boosting the

economy. The conference, called "Business Connect," was organized to repair the relationship between the Conservative Party and the business community, which was damaged during the tenure of previous Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Sunak emphasized his commitment to reviving the economy, which is one of his top priorities, and assured business leaders that the government has their back.

However, the International Monetary Fund's latest projections place Britain at the bottom of the world's major economies in terms of expected growth in 2023, with the economy predicted to shrink by 0.3%. This is compounded by global issues such as higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions, as well as Brexit-related trading rule changes and labor shortages.

The conference also took place amid the scandal surrounding the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the primary channel for government-business engagement. Sunak avoided commenting on the allegations against the CBI but stressed his desire to provide opportunities for all, regardless of gender or socioeconomic background.

Jeremy Hunt, Britain's finance minister, expressed his belief that the government needs a collective body to engage with businesses despite the CBI's troubles. Sunak, a former investment banker, did not comment on tax policies but said he was open to discussing options and wanted input from companies on how to improve the business environment. Photo by HM Treasury, Wikimedia commons.