Saudi-UK Business Week events set for Dammam
Published: Mar 18, 2010 01:31 Updated: Mar 18, 2010 01:32
DAMMAM: From showcases to workshops, the third Saudi-British Business Week holds the promise of forging even stronger commercial and educational ties between the two kingdoms.
Beginning Sunday, March 21, at the Asharqia Chamber, the weeklong event will give businesspeople and investors the chance to explore a variety of possibilities both here and abroad.
“The event will provide a unique opportunity for Saudi businesspeople to establish contacts with British companies from a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, education and training, power, environment, information technology, retail and health care,” said Khalid A. Al-Abdulkarim, CEO of Al-Abdulkarim Holding Co.
Al-Abdulkarim described the British Trade Office in Alkhobar as one of the most active and receptive organizations in the region. “That is the reason why we have associated ourselves with this event,” he said. Al-Abdulkarim Holding Co. is one of the sponsors of the Saudi-British Business Week.
Nick Heath, political and press officer at the British Embassy in Riyadh, elaborated on the significance of the event. “Saudi British Business Week will be a showcase of the trading relationship between the two kingdoms. It demonstrates the importance that British companies attach to the Saudi market,” Heath told Arab News.
“More than 50 leading British companies will be coming to the Eastern Province with world-class products. The week will also showcase British culture with a traditional fete and a visit from former Manchester United Manager Tommy Docherty. The fair will resemble a traditional summer fete with stalls, competitions and many of the business participants who are attending the rest of the week. There is a lot of excitement in store,” Heath said.
“We have over 300 confirmed guests for some of the events across the week. It will be an opportunity for major businesses in the Eastern Province to discover how British companies can help them develop their business.”
He said there would be a focus on entrepreneurship with a workshop on leadership skills for businesswomen. “The workshop will have an educational aspect. It will be led by Sarah Dawson of SBD Associates, which has many years’ experience in management training and development. It will be an opportunity for the participants to discuss and develop corporate leadership skills which can help them in their organizations.”
On the current state of trade between the two countries, Heath said: “Last year, trade between our two kingdoms rose by 14 percent to 3.3 billion pounds and, amazingly, that figure does not include petrochemicals. Coming at a time of global economic recession these are startling figures.”
According to him, Saudi Arabia has weathered the economic crisis better than many other countries in the region, and British companies are coming to Saudi Arabia in ever greater numbers. “Saudi Arabia is Britain’s largest trading partner outside of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Saudi individuals and companies own 60 billion pounds of assets in the UK,” he said. “It is a relationship that is already delivering huge benefits to both countries.”
