The conversation I had on the train to Davos is one such example, but first I need to put the journey in context. I arrived at Zurich airport knowing that the connection time was very tight. By the time I had got through passport control, collected my bag and walked out of customs, I had seven minutes to get to the railway station (next to the airport), buy a ticket and then get on a train.
I got to the ticket booth pretty quickly when another passenger who had also got off the plane arrived behind me and asked if I was going to Davos and could I get him a ticket as well to save time.
We managed to catch the train and introduced ourselves. He is an economic professor from Oxford who is a leading authority on Africa and developing nations. He has also recently written a best selling book entitled the bottom billion, which is self explanatory.
That day he had been speaking on a world service program on which he proffered the view that the answer to the economic plight of developing economies could be stronger accounting and legal professions. As you might imagine, the conversation developed from there...........Post your commentsComments
One of the recent icaew questions of members (was it Practice Forum?) asked something like "do you believe the icaew should assist emerging nations in setting accounting standards". Michael no doubt you offerred our help and i was looking for volunteer work! Happy New Year.No doubt seven minutes was plenty of time in Swiss rails hands to accommodate you both with simplicity of ticketing in time to get your train unlike the UK.
Mr Michael Cox
It seems to me there is more than enough to keep the ICAEW busy in its nominated territory before stretching too far overseas. Where are the benefits to members if senior management effort is spread in this way?
With the UK Government still practicing off-balance sheet financing and unable to produce accurate financial data on time, one would have thought that should be a high priority.
Supporting the status of members should be the number one priority.
Mr Andrew Smith
the development of the legal and accounting professions continues to be important but unless there is a cultural shift towards improved transparency and avoidence of corruption this will be insufficient. I worked in Kenya and East Africa for several years and was impressed by the strides made by the accounting profession in those countries.
Mr R Paul Shelton