JEDDAH, 21 October — When someone gets sick on board an aircraft you no longer need to look around for a medical expert to handle the problem. The case can be relayed to ground doctors using an in-flight telephone system.
"We’ve a remote medical monitoring device designed for non-expert use on board aircraft to convey the sick patient’s details back to ground doctors," Kate Murphy, a British trade mission member, told Arab News on Saturday.
Kate, who represents Hampshire-based Remote Diagnostic Technologies, is part of the 22-member mission currently visiting the Kingdom. British Consul General Andy Henderson hosted a reception to the mission, which is led by Lawrie Walker, a former consul general here.
"Our product will surely evoke anxious inquiries from agents and distributors," Kate added.
Walker, who represents the London-based Middle East Association which organized the mission, said some of the mission members were first-timers and looking for local business contacts.
"Sponsored by the British Offset Office, the delegation is keen to meet existing agents, appointing local representation and identifying new partners and opportunities for business in the Kingdom," said Walker who recently retired from diplomatic service. According to Walker, who has over 20 years’ commercial experience in Arab countries including the Kingdom, Kuwait and Bahrain, trade between the two kingdoms was around 5 billion pounds a year, both visible and non-visible.
This is the eighth trade mission Walker is leading to the Kingdom. "I recently joined Trade Partners UK as export promoter for Saudi Arabia and am responsible for providing help and advice to British companies seeking to expand into this important market," he added.
Mission members, who represent a wide variety of products and services, move to Riyadh today for a three-day interaction with the capital’s business community. They will be in the Eastern Province from Oct. 24 to 27.
Included in the mission is Cambridge Regional College that provides educational programs, training for industry, consultancy and language for business.
According to the consul general, the Kingdom is a major trading partner of the UK. Britain is the third largest supplier of goods to Saudi Arabia.
