At a press conference, Duncan Hoyland, Head of UK Trade and Investment at the UK Embassy stated that 2012 is a special year for the UK and Kuwait, "Last year, it was about marking 50/20. This year, we are looking to cement the relationship between our two countries that 50/20 represented." He also mentioned that 2012 was significant to the UK with the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and London Olympic Games. In fact, many of the companies at the trade mission have been involved in developing the infrastructure around the Olympic Games.
He also highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding signed during Prime Minister David Cameron's visit last year to develop trade and double it to KD 2 billion by 2015. This delegation is part of ongoing dialogues between UK and Kuwaiti Government to discuss infrastructure development in Kuwait and follows a UK Ports Seminar held in Kuwait City in 2009 and a visit by MPW to the UK in 2010. Paul McKay, Senior Commercial Officer at the British Embassy welcomed the visit, "There is a long history of successful collaboration between the UK and Kuwait. The UK ports and Construction sectors recognizes that there are many opportunities for partnership and we are keen to work closely with both the government agencies and local companies in Kuwait to identify and implement solutions to improve the contribution that the development plan projects make to the countries' future prosperity." It was acknowledge by all that Kuwait offered a fantastic market for British companies as substantial amounts of money have been allotted to put infrastructure in place as in the case of the billion dollar Boubyan and the Jaber Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah Hospital projects.
Projects
The Mission sought to identify key areas in which assistance is required to continue the development of infrastructure projects and to match the requirements with the experience of British companies involved in all areas of the construction, management and operation of ports. Companies taking part in the mission cover a wide range of skills from feasibility, planning and engineering services, port equipment, logistics advice, security and port management to carbon sustainability in the built environment, sustainable communities, green buildings and green technologies expertise. John Nutt, International Business Specialist from UK trade and Investment, said, "The group here has a wide experience in construction with a particular focus on low carbon and sustainable design and equipment solutions for projects. This is becoming of great interest with the demands on resources around the world and demands on power supply."
Martin Mannion, Global Head of Maritime, URS pointed out that UK has a reputation for being at the leading edge in the maritime industry. This, he said, was represented within the trade mission and companies. "We have firms involved in the planning, design and supervision of ports both here and around the world. We have people who are involved in providing security solutions and equipment supplies and experienced in port operations in particular."
He also informed that there are five UK firms already involved in port development on Boubyan islands and several UK firms have been or are still involved in Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports, in upgrades, training exercises, etc. In light of the upcoming elections, Hoyland stated, "Inevitably all elections have bearings on business, particularly here in Kuwait. It is impossible for us to predict what that outcome will be.
We hope that the new government and the national assembly members are committed to Kuwait's future and that development plans continue and we see more opportunities in large scale infrastructure development become available." The mission was organized by British Expertise and Business to Business, leading UK private sector organisation for British companies offering professional services internationally on behalf of UK Trade & Investment, the government body responsible for promoting exports from and inward investment into the United Kingdom.
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