Letter: Beating the Germans

Sir: Your report "Germany moves in on the world's boardrooms" (25 May) describes a sensible, strategically minded and forward-looking country positioning itself to become a major player in the global economy.

There is actually nothing particularly clever about what the Germans are doing; unless, being British, you are unused to people being able to think beyond the end of next. Then what the Germans are up to is obviously pretty sneaky.

I mean to say, employing management teams and bankers who are actually able to plan for the future and link such "anorak" topics as technological development with business success is really pretty unfair. Even more villainous is the fact that the Germans actually invest money in their industries.

For UK plc a loud wakeup call is due. We have to choose whether we wish to be a global player or not, and if we do then we need to take a leaf out of Germany's book. Whilst German unemployment was higher than in the UK they still ran a trade surplus, and were able to pay their way in the world. The UK has run a trade deficit for longer than I care to remember. Investment in industry has proven the Germans right time after time.

DICK WINCHESTER

Old Rayne, Aberdeenshire