The British Consulate organized a networking event here Saturday night to introduce a visiting 29-company British trade delegation to the Saudi market in order to increase the opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries. The trade delegation represents a variety of sectors, and they have come “with the aim to meet Saudi counterparts and Saudi companies,” said Noel Johnston, the head of the delegation. “We would also like to invite Saudi businessmen and investors to visit the UK to see the facilities and opportunities that are available for them there,” he added. Most of the companies in the trade delegation are visiting Saudi Arabia for the first time. “This is the first time we have come here. We are looking for Saudi partners and feel that the Kingdom can be a promising market for us as our company specializes in the design and building of state-of-the-art water and wastewater treatment facilities,” said Brian Taylor, a company director. The University of Ulster in Northern Ireland already has a number of Saudi students, and they joined the trade delegation looking for more. “We are currently operating a prestigious nursing program for the Kingdom, and we are looking to extend our relationship with the region by providing more training and research,” said Tim Brundle, the university's director of innovation. Trade delegations play an important role in boosting ties between countries. “This is the third such delegation which has come to Jeddah, which shows the interest that the UK has in the region. It also shows how much in general British business is looking towards Saudi Arabia particularly in the midst of the current global economic downturn,” said Kate Rudd, the British Consul General. “I think we will see sustained and increased interest in Saudi Arabia,” she said. “The trade between the two countries is booming. Saudi Arabia is the UK's biggest trading partner in the Middle East, and we are the second largest investor in the Kingdom after the USA, which shows our interest in this country,” she added. The consul general also said that she would like to invite Saudi businessmen and investors to the UK to see for themselves the business opportunities there. Many Saudi businessmen and investors were on hand at the British Consulate to see what the UK trade delegation had to offer. “ I found the visit of this delegation quite interesting. It is the first time I have seen the products of a British trade delegation. Hopefully this will provide an opportunity for Saudi businessmen to do business with British companies,” said Mohammed Bin Salamat Al- Shallan, director general of Hala institute for investment and consultancy. The British Trade delegation traveled to Riyadh on Monday to meet their counterparts and seek business opportunities there.
