"Three out of four UK based companies are planning to expand their businesses, with 80% planning to expand in the UK and a significant number considering expanding some of their activities in foreign locations, in particular China or India.

Forty two per cent of those planning expansion out of the UK are considering Europe with a third citing Eastern Europe as their preferred location. More than 30% were considering Asia, with the majority of these naming China or India.

Eighty per cent of UK companies are considering expansion in the next two years, with 35% considering other countries. Some 15% were therefore considering expansion in both the UK and abroad."

"London is the best city in Europe in which to locate a business. The performance of 30 leading business cities shows that London has extended its lead over Paris and that both are well ahead of their nearest rivals Frankfurt and Brussels.

The results are based on the views of senior managers and board directors of 500 top European companies and cover 12 wide-ranging factors. London ranked number one in terms of ease of access to markets, availability of qualified staff, external transport links, telecoms quality and the range of languages spoken."

"By 2020 China and India are predicted to be the second and third largest economies worldwide in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), with the USA in first place. China and India are actively forging strong relationships and the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, paid a state visit to India in 2005 and obtained reciprocal commitments from his counterpart, the Indian Prime Minister Manhoman Singh to develop economic co-operation, peace and prosperity.

The Chinese Premier remarked to Mr Singh; 'The handshake between us will catch the attention of the entire world" and has been publicly quoted as saying his visit to India was; 'the most important event in my calendar'. India's Minister for Science and Technology, Kapil Sibal, says; 'India is the number one in terms of software and China is number one in hardware - together we can become number one in IT."

"Seventy five per cent of commercial property occupiers are willing to pay more to occupy more environmentally friendly premises. Almost two thirds see energy efficiency as being 'very important' and 91% are concerned about future increases in energy prices. Occupiers also recognise other tangential benefits of occupying greener property, such as raising staff satisfaction and improving company image."