For the process to be taken seriously, senior members of government need to preside over important meetings - the Industry Minister might chair sessions of an Advisory Council on Industry, for example, and the Finance Minister chair top level meetings of a National Business Forum. But these are the exception. In general, it is better if most of the dialogue is conducted with public servants rather than politicians. One reason is that most of the issues raised by business are relatively technical, and require the attention to detail that politicians cannot normally provide. Another is that effective government-business interaction requires developing long term relationships of familiarity and trust between individuals representing both sides.
Politicians frequently change posts, while public servants tend to be more permanent.
In the current climate of economic liberalization, opportunities to develop such services are greater than ever before in many countries. For business associations, this has a number of attractions. It permits them to employ more qualified professional staff. It enhances their general credibility with government and potential members. And it provides them with a relatively secure source of income, and thereby greater independence.