Press Release For Immediate Release February 5, 2003 The Results are In (Cont.) Mayor's Remarks from the DC Business Connections Announcement "Business is one of the primary economic engines of this city - it gets people into the city, it gets them staying in our hotels, it gets them eating out and shopping in our stores, and it pumps millions of dollars into our economy. "Across the country, the mood in the business community is somber. There is a recession that threatens the livelihoods of people in many sectors of the economy. The District isn't immune from this downturn. But our city's business leaders remain positive about the changes they've seen in recent years. "Every year since 2000, Connections staff have interviewed about 1,000 District CEO's-from companies small to large, from associations to telecommunications. And every year, the results of those surveys have improved: "Business leaders are more optimistic about the business climate in the District-from 33 percent responding "very positive" in 2000, to 55 percent in 2002. "And business leaders believe the District's business climate is stronger than it was five years ago-from 38 percent responding "much better" in 2000, to 55 percent in 2002. "The good news doesn't stop there: According to a survey just released by the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, the District is the number one foreign real estate investment city-both in the country and in the world. Across the U.S., we beat New York, we beat Chicago, we beat San Francisco and we beat L.A. Across the globe, the District beat London, the District beat Paris and the District beat Milan. "These statistics tell a powerful story: Business leaders are more optimistic about the business climate in the District, and they believe that the District's business climate is stronger than it was five years ago." Page 2 of 2      1  2