A number of countries that have adopted this practice, originating in the United States, whereby the Head of State meets regularly, often over a meal, with a small group of people representing, on an individual basis, large firms and enterprises. The attraction to government is that this provides direct interaction with the most influential decision makers in business, sometimes cutting out business associations entirely. Such an open marriage of political power and big business can provoke adverse reactions. It gives big business better information about governments' thoughts and intentions, and may put them at an unfair advantage compared to the rest of the private sector. On balance, formal and open dialogue between government and business associations has proved a better and fairer option.
Regular consultation helps build trust between the two sides.
Politicians and public servants gain a better understanding of the business point of view, and business is more likely to appreciate what government is attempting to do, and why. The two are then more likely to cooperate in the national interest. An important test case has been in the planning of structural adjustment programmes, an area where business might be expected to resist reform measures in order to protect their special interests. In fact, experience has been the opposite. In countries as diverse as India, Zimbabwe and Mexico, business associations have worked with government to plan, promote and implement structural adjustment.