RIYADH, 29 June 2004 — The Confederation of British Industry and the Foreign Office have together launched a joint initiative called Security Information Service for Business Overseas (SISBO) to keep British businessmen updated on security threats in the Gulf states.
Gary Campkin, the regional director of CBI for the Middle East, in a press statement said the web-based security alert would enable British businessmen visiting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to take precautionary measures during their trade missions.
He said the web-service-cum-hot line was manned by a dedicated staff at British diplomatic missions abroad. The security update can be accessed via e-mail or the hot line.
Based in London, the CBI represents 250,000 companies in Britain from all sectors of the British industry.
Campkin said the industry would continue to deal with Saudi Arabia as in the past and would not be cowed by terrorist threats.
“Investment is a long-term relationship based on a whole range of factors. So investment decisions don’t change overnight. We clearly are going through a period of heightened sensitivity. British companies must assess the situation as best as they can to protect the life and property of the people working in that area. In the ultimate analysis, it is for the representatives of the companies concerned to take appropriate actions on the ground in dealing with terror threats.
“At the same time, the global community cannot let terrorism win,” he said.
He said Britain long faced terrorist threats from the IRA and was used to dealing with such situations. “We shall be working with the British and Saudi governments to ensure that terrorist risk is met. We shall also put in place measures to ensure that business continues.”
The Middle East, he pointed out, is not the only area in the world where security concerns remain. “There needs to be a balance between threats and opportunities and ensure that terrorists do not win. A continuous analysis is always helpful.”
