The President of Portugal honours Eligo International chairman for his contribution to furthering Portuguese-Arab ties. Lisbon – October 2005.
 The President of the Portuguese Republic, His Excellency Jorge Sampaio, has decorated Eligo International chairman, Mr Anthony Bailey, with the insignia of Commander of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique in recognition of his contribution to furthering Portuguese-Arab relations.
The award ceremony took place at the Necessidades Palace in Lisbon and was conducted by the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, HE Prof Dr Diogo Freitas do Amaral and held in the presence of senior Presidential and Government officials from Portugal.
Mr Bailey is chairman of the Painting & Patronage initiative which in 2005 launched the largest ever cultural and educational exchange programme between Saudi Arabia and Portugal. Eligo International also acted as communications consultants to the programme which the Portuguese President formally inaugurated and patronised. In 2006 Riyadh will also play host to the largest ever showcase of Portuguese art and culture ever seen in the Middle Eastern kingdom which will also be chaired by Mr Bailey and organised by Eligo International.
“Having had a strong professional and personal relationship with Portugal for some 14 years now I am truly honoured to have been awarded this high decoration by the President and Government of Portugal. I am happy also that I have been able to play a role in furthering the centuries old friendship which Portugal has with the Arab world and assist the Government in its desire to enhance its ties across all sectors”.
In a letter dated 25 October 2005 from Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty The Queen granted Mr Bailey Unrestricted Permission to officially wear the decoration in the United Kingdom.
Eligo International co hosts and organises the third Painting & Patronage bilateral cultural initiative between Portugal and Saudi Arabia. September 2005.
Eligo International co hosted and organised the third Painting & Patronage cultural initiative, which took place in Sintra, Portugal from 7-14 September 2005.
Established in Riyadh in 1999, Painting & Patronage is today one of the most prominent private cultural and educational exchange initiatives between Saudi Arabia and Europe. It was created by its founding patron and son of the late King Faisal, HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, in partnership with the initiative's founding chairman, Mr Anthony Bailey.
The principal aim and activity of Painting & Patronage is to build valuable bridges of cultural, artistic and educational understanding between the Arab world and Europe.  Through doing so, the initiative aims to establish a higher and deeper level of appreciation and understanding of each other's distinct and diverse cultures and traditions.
Painting & Patronage also serves to create international and high profile platforms for statesmen from the Arab world and Europe to highlight and promote their roles either as artists in their own right, or as patrons of the arts on both a national or international level.
Worthy cultural exchange programmes for students between participating countries provide the educational framework and solid charitable foundation necessary for each Painting & Patronage initiative.
The formal launch ceremony took place on Friday 9 September 2005 at the historic National Palace of Sintra, close to the country's capital city of Lisbon. His Excellency Jorge Sampaio, President of the Portuguese Republic, granted his High Patronage over the third Painting & Patronage initiative and formally inaugurated it in the presence of HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal. The launch event included an exhibition of twenty-seven of the most recent paintings by HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal who is Governor of the Asir province. Over 400 other leading personalities and opinion formers including statesmen, parliamentarians, diplomats, business leaders, and artists from both countries will be present.
During the official opening ceremony, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal formally announced the launch of an artistic exchange programme between the two countries. This exchange will initially allow in the first year for up to 30 amateur and professional artists from Portugal to spend a fortnight at the Al-Miftaha Visual Arts Village in Asir.
 In return, up to 30 Saudi Arabian artists will be invited to visit and paint in Sintra. An honorary committee has been formed to support this major Saudi Arabian-Portuguese cultural and educational initiative. Among the members of the committee are leading figures from Portugal including The Portuguese Ministers of State, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Economy, Innovation and Culture, HE The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Portugal, HE The Ambassador of Portugal to Saudi Arabia, HRH The Duke of Braganza, the Mayor of Sintra, the President of the Camões Institute, the President of the Arab Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, the Rector of Lisbon University and a senior representative of the Ricardo Espírito Santo Foundation. The Chairman of Painting & Patronage, Mr Anthony Bailey, chaired the honorary committee.
A number of other high profile events aimed at promoting and encouraging wider bilateral cultural economic and political ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Portuguese Republic took place on the occasion of the opening of Painting & Patronage. Among them were a formal luncheon hosted by HE Prof Dr Diogo Freitas do Amaral, Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, an official dinner offered by HE Dr Luís Filipe Marques Amado Portuguese Minister of National Defence, a cultural evening hosted by HE Dr Isabel Pires de Lima, Minister of Culture and Arquitecto Joao Rodeia, President of IPPAR (Instituto Português do Patrimonio Arqitectonico) and a dinner hosted by the Mayor of Sintra on behalf of the Municipality.
The President of the Portuguese Republic, The Prime Minister of Portugal, and the Minister of Economy and Innovation also received the Painting & Patronage delegation during their ten day stay in Portugal.
The organisers of Painting & Patronage in Portugal were the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Portuguese Ministry of Culture, IPPAR, the King Faisal Foundation and the Municipality of Sintra. The initiative was organized by Eligo International in conjunction with its Portuguese partner, Unlimited Events. Buchanan Capital Group, Portugal Telecom were among the principal sponsors of the initiative.
 Eligo International has been hired by Painting & Patronage since its founding in 1999 and co-ordinates all its communications and strategic requirements. Eligo organised the first Painting & Patronage initiative which took place in London in 2000 and united HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal with HRH The Prince of Wales in what became the largest ever cultural exchange programme between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
An exhibition featuring the paintings by HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal and HRH The Prince of Wales and a Summer School for young artists was funded as a part of the first Painting & Patronage initiative as well as a formal exchange programme established between The Prince's Foundation and the King Faisal Foundation. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II also visited the exhibition which was held at the Palace of Whitehall in Central London.
The second Painting & Patronage exhibition took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February 2001. The exhibition followed the same format, style and content as the London exhibition and was opened by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (as Crown Prince), HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.
As an on-going private royal initiative, Painting & Patronage will be initiating further cultural exchange programmes and are currently planning to broaden its activity within the coming years to include other European and North American nations.
For more information please visit www.paintingandpatronage.com
British Prime Minister congratulates Eligo International for its work on the City Academies initiative – July 2005.
 The British Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Tony Blair, MP, in a letter of 28 July 2005 congratulated Eligo International’s chairman, Mr Anthony Bailey for its work and support in furthering the British Government’s flagship educational programme, City Academies.
In his letter, the Prime Minister said “I am writing to thank you for all the support you have given to the Academies programme, particularly the development of the Academy in Hull and your help with United Learning Trust Academies initiative. It is much appreciated”. To download the letter click here.
Mr Bailey has been advising the Government for some two and a half years and was appointed a member of the London Challenge Ministerial Advisory Group of the Department of Education and Skills which reports every six weeks to the Minister of State for Schools, Lord Adonis.
Eligo has played a significant role in forging contact between business and education especially in relation to brokering a number of academy projects in Greater London and the North of England. The programme aims to provide disadvantaged communities in England with excellent schooling facilities and specialist expertise. A target of 200 academies has been announced by HM Government to be open, or in the pipeline, by 2010, including 60 academies in London.
Eligo International co-hosts and organises first global Women in Business Forum. Damascus – May 2005.
 Eligo International co-hosted and organised the first global Women in Business Forum to be held outside London. The three day event was held in Damascus, Syria, and was attended by over 2000 delegates from 40 countries. Eligo International was one of the three principal organisers alongside the British Syrian Society and Syrian NGO - Mawred - Modernising and Activating Women's Role in Economic Development.
The Women in Business Forum is unique not just because it is a premier business networking opportunity but also because it recognises women as strategically important partners for development of their national economies. The Forum also seeks to involve professional women working with large companies as well as those owning and managing their own businesses.
A not-for profit company, Women in Business is dedicated to supporting women's economic development issues through its training programme, international forums and networks.
.jpg) The Women in Business International Forum in Syria featured key note speakers from prominent political and business leaders including HE Mrs Asma al-Assad, First Lady of Syria, HE Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt, HE Mrs Emine Erdogan, wife of the Prime Minister of Turkey, HE Mrs Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, HE Dr Buthaina Shaaban, Syrian Minister of Expatriates, HE Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Minister of Public Services and Administration of South Africa, and Christine McCafferty, British MP.
The specialist business panels featured world renown experts, including: HE Tun Dr. Mahatir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, HH Sheikha Hussa Sa'd Al-Sabah of Kuwait, President of the Arab Businesswomen Council, HH Sheikha Hanadi Al-Thani of Qatar, HE Mrs Margarita Papandreou, wife of late Prime Minister of Greece, Lord Bell of Belgravia, Chairman of Bell Pottinger Communications and former adviser to Margaret Thatcher, Lord Alli of Norbury, Chairman of Chorion Plc, Lady Brennan of Bibury, Mr Anthony Bailey, Chairman, Eligo International, Mr Richard Street, Director, Youth Business International of The Prince's Trust, UK, Dr Amani Kandil, Chief Executive of the Arab NGO Network, Dr Fawaz Akhras, renown Consultant Cardiologist, Oonagh Blackman, Political Editor of The Mirror newspaper, UK, Nicolas De Santis, Chief Executive of Twelve Stars Communications, and Johanna Crotty, Head of Marketing for BBC TV.
 
The conference took place at the Omayyad Conference Palace situated in the heart of the Syrian capital and additional events were also held at the People's Palace, Damascene Hall and the British Embassy in Damascus.
HE Mrs Asma al-Assad, First Lady of Syria speaking of the event says, "We are very pleased that Syria has been chosen to host this year's conference. Damascus is a city with a rich trade and mercantile heritage that is finding its way again on a long and challenging road. I have no doubt the conference will continue to act as a strong platform for the exchange of views on the important issues facing women around the world today. I would like to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to Women in Business, the British Syrian Society, Mawred and Eligo International for ensuring that the Forum was such a tremendous national and international success".
 According to the founder of Women in Business International, Mr Ahmed Suleiman, MBE, "Misconceptions and stereotypes abound in the media about Arab women and the value given to them in society. We have endeavoured for over 8 years to open the world's eyes to the reality of the situation. The Women in Business International event in Syria will bury many of these prejudices as delegates can see a vibrant dedicated business and professional community of women in Syria that have over the years had the equality of opportunity to participate in society. We have been overwhelmed by the interest that we have received from those invited to speak and attend the Forum. This confirms unequivocally the level of respect and esteem given to the event in Damascus."
Eligo International chairman Anthony Bailey said "It's been a true delight and honour to play such a significant role in ensuring the success of the Women in Business Forum in Syria. The event surpassed even our own expectations and I look forward to ensuring that the key messages agreed upon are expanded and built upon".
Prime Minister Tony Blair clarifies Labour Party position following Eligo’s issuing of legal proceedings against The Times and The Sunday Times. London - April 2005.
 In a letter addressed to Mr Jasper Conran, The Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, The Rt Hon Tony Blair, MP, clarified his own and the Party’s position following the publication of a wholly inaccurate story in March 2005 in The Times and The Sunday Times concerning Eligo International Chairman, Mr Anthony Bailey, which is now subject to legal complaint.
In his letter the Prime Minister said “Many thanks for your letter concerning Anthony Bailey. I am assured that none of the derogatory quotes in the story to which you refer came from anyone speaking in an official capacity for the Labour Party. The Labour Party press office was not responsible for these quotes. I do not know the source for the article but I do not believe it was anyone authorised to speak to the press on the Party’s behalf.
“I have looked into this very carefully and am as angry about it as you. But I really don’t believe anyone with any real closeness has said it” Tony
To download the letter click here.
Eligo International commences legal action against The Times and The Sunday Times – March 2005.
 Eligo International has commenced legal proceedings in the High Court against The Times and The Sunday Times for defamation and libel following the publication on 13 March 2005 and 14 March 2005 of a wholly inacurrate news story relating to Eligo International Chairman, Mr Anthony Bailey, which also referenced several of Eligo’s clients and former clients. To download the writ click here. News International have confirmed that the two articles are now subject to our legal complaint. For further information please contact Ahmed Sulieman in the legal department on 020 7591 0619.
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