THE chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight branch of the Institute of Directors has been broadcasting to a world audience as part of the IoD's annual convention.

Mike Pawley was giving his thoughts on globalisation to more than 2,000 businesses.

They were relayed to delegates in between live appearances by speakers like Dr Henry Kissinger, the former United States' Secretary of State, Malcolm Brinded, chairman of Shell UK, and Clara Furse, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange.

Mr Pawley lives near Andover and is a partner with the Hartley Wintney-based architects, Lyons, Sleeman and Hoare. He is also chairman of the IoD's south east region, which takes in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey Downs and Kent. Interviewed about globalisation and the attitude of large multinationals he said: "Many of these companies have greater wealth production than some small countries and they must recognise that by virtue of their position they must act responsibly."

In response to questions about the opportunities and problems presented by the rapid growth in e-commerce he pointed out the areas where the government's attention needed to be focussed urgently, namely business legislation and taxation.

The all-day focus on globalisation was led by George Cox, the IoD's director general. He alerted delegates to the huge social and economic problems being faced across the world and said the issues of globalisation had to be brought out into the open to be discussed and properly debated. He said business may have caused some of the problems but it also had the best potential solutions for solving them. Mr Brinded and Richard Greenhalgh, chairman of Unilever UK, endorsed his words.

Dr Kissinger, whose presence attracted lively demonstrations by crowds outside the Royal Albert Hall, talked of the Middle East crisis and the need to help countries like China and Russia move forward without confrontation.