THE Island's treasury Minister has warned that the Isle of Man must "step up to the plate" if it is to develop its political and diplomatic relations with other countries.
Anne Craine MHK has been speaking out to enhance the Island's international profile and to promote a greater understanding and awareness of its positive contribution to the international economy.
In recent weeks the minister has been in the company of the president of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, and the UK chancellor George Osborne.
She also provided an update on the Small Countries Financial Management Programme to world finance ministers in Washington, signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) with China, and this week delivered the prestigious Sir Thomas Gresham Docklands Lecture in London.
Mrs Craine said: "The Isle of Man Government has increasingly represented its own interests in world affairs in recent years - most notably by concluding a significant number of bilateral tax agreements.
"My recent experiences in America and UK have reinforced the need for greater engagement with other countries in order to position the Isle of Man on the world stage.
"There is no doubt that what happens in the glass and chrome offices in Washington and the City of London has a direct effect on us here in the Island."
She continued: "The Isle of Man has a very positive message and one of the best ways to convey that is through face-to-face meetings. We cannot afford to be left out in the cold. We must step up to the plate – small as we are – and show that we can compete at the highest level. The stakes are too high to be ostrich-like in our approach."
Mrs Craine said that gradual but important progress was being achieved and welcomed a commitment from Robert Zoellick for the World Bank to act as a conduit to give small counties such as the Isle of Man access into powerful decision-making bodies.
The minister added: "It is vital to our international reputation and future prosperity that the Isle of Man's position on key issues is fairly and accurately communicated to policy makers such as the G20, OECD, and EU Member States.
"The world is changing fast and if we don't continue to change with it and meet the current trends we will be lost. That's why our international interface is so important."
