Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk will visit the
Middle East this week, to drive forward bilateral trade and
investment relations with Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan.
Bilateral trade between the UK and the Gulf increased by nearly
20 per cent last year. In Qatar alone, bilateral trade has
increased by 160 per cent to £2.2 billion in the last five
years.
The Minister will lead a delegation of 12 UK companies
interested in building new commercial partnerships in Qatar's
airport and aerospace sector. In Kuwait, he will learn more about
the countries 'mega projects',and in Jordan he will look at
opportunities in the oil sector.
Minister Mark Prisk said:
"Markets across the Middle East have strong economies and
ambitious growth and diversification plans to match. Whether it is
infrastructure, healthcare, education, financial services or
renewable energy, UK companies have the skills and expertise to
help the region realise its development plans.
"My visit this week is to promote British companies as the
global partner of choice across the region."
The Minister's visit follows on from the State visit to the Gulf
in November and the State visit by the Emir of Qatar to the UK in
October. During the visit, the Minister signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Qatar's Minister for Business and Trade to
strengthen the existing strong and historic trade and investment
relations between the two countries.
Peter Hogarth, UKTI's International Trade Director for the East
Midlands, said:
"The Middle East is a growing market with many potential
business opportunities for East Midlands' firms. With
projects covering infrastructure, healthcare, housing and
education, including a £4.6billion metro system in Kuwait,
which will integrate with the planned GCC rail network ,a
1,500 kilometre system that will link all the Gulf States, local
companies should certainly look to the Middle East. Any company who
would like further information on exporting to the Middle East can
get in touch with a local trade advisor by calling 0845 052 4001
"