By Samuel A DiPiazza Jr., CEO, PricewaterhouseCoopers International

The quest for new markets and new customers dominates the agendas of global company leaders. This year's PwC Global CEO Survey showed CEO optimism to be at record levels, fueled by renewed confidence in the kind of mergers and acquisitions which generate growth and provide access to new markets and capital. The pace of globalisation is leading companies to set aside long-standing preferences for local partners to pursue opportunities in more geographically-diverse markets. Is it any surprise then that market regulators and standard setters are moving closer to a single set of high-quality global accounting standards to encourage the free flow of capital across markets?

We are particularly well-positioned to serve our clients in the fast-growing developing economies. PwC member firms in the key growth markets of China, Russia, India, and Brazil grew at double-digit rates.