Letter from Lord Davies of Abersoch, Minister
for Trade and Investment to the Chairman of the BIS Select Committee
When we corresponded in June last year following
your visit to the Gulf, I indicated to you that UK Trade &
Investment (UKTI) would look creatively at how it could reinforce
its resources in support of business with Saudi Arabia. I also
indicated that this would not be at the expense of existing UKTI
resources in the United Arab Emirates. I know that the Select
Committee is very close to agreeing its final report on "Exporting
out of Recession" and I wanted to update you on developments
since then.
I am delighted to be able to confirm that, since
our exchange of letters, two additional locally-engaged members
of staff have been appointed in Saudi Arabia: one in UKTI's team
in Riyadh and the other in Jeddah. UKTI has also created a Marketing
Hub for the Middle East in Dubai, comprising two locally-engaged
members of staff, which will support our efforts to increase business
between the UK and the whole of the Gulf Co-operation Council
(GCC), including Saudi Arabia. Finally, efforts in the UK to focus
British companies on Gulf markets have also been boosted through
the expansion of UKTI's Middle East team in London—with
two graduate entrants appointed towards the end of last year.
As you may be aware, I led a large business
delegation to Saudi Arabia in early December and saw for myself
the major opportunities for British business that exist in the
Kingdom. I am confident that the additional resource allocated
by UKTI to the region over recent months will help to generate
even more business between the UK, Saudi Arabia and wider Middle
East.
12 January 2010
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