JEDDAH, 12 December 2006 — With its customary complement of ingenuity and invention, the Middle East Association (MEA) is on the last leg of a successful sortie to Saudi Arabia. The entrepreneurs, all small or medium size businesses, some of which are on a return visit, held a reception at the British Consulate on Saturday for the Jeddah business community.
“It’s our third mission in thirteen months,” said David Lloyd leader of the mission. “There is a lingering perception in the UK that the Kingdom is not a safe place to trade — the MEA spends a lot of time trying to allay those fears and with considerable success.” He was pleasantly surprised to see that the attitude to the UK was friendly and described it as very reassuring. “Certainly we have encountered not even a hint of hostility on our trip,” he confirmed.
Lloyd said that there could be no doubt of the size, importance and potential of the Saudi marketplace, representing as it does 25 percent of the GDP of the GCC economy; it is growing at about 6 percent per annum. He said that this mission had companies that had done business in the Kingdom for years and included a range of business areas from financial services, education, manufacturers and food services and agriculture. The mission began its trip in the Eastern Province last Tuesday and estimated their reception and potential for uptake of business as “very good.”
The UK has a long history of equine skills and services and most especially of the Arab bloodline. Richard Masterson, partner in British Equestrian Trade Overseas, has been a frequent visitor to the Kingdom as agent and consultant for equipment that supports the care and breeding of horses. He said that the challenging environment in the Kingdom limits the use of wooden fencing and stabling. Among the products devised to address this was a novel interlocking plastic fence system that resisted termites, rot and desiccation caused by strong, direct sunlight. Another long established and respected British industry, the making of fine shoes, is alive and well and dealing with the middle and upper levels of the market. Mark Hadden, international sales manager for Loake Shoemakers, established 126 years ago, enthusiastically demonstrated the many processes and craft skills that go into the making of a fine shoe. “A leather shoe,” he said, “is essential for the climate here as it allows the foot to ‘breathe’ and adds to the comfort of the wearer.” He added that the company was addressing a niche market — but he perceived a great understanding of quality among potential clients and businessmen that he thought would develop into a steady market in the Kingdom.
Ecocats — ecologically friendly catamarans — represented a long standing UK maritime tradition but with a very modern concept. Henry Mayhew, CEO of Ecocats Ltd., said that boat designers did not design craft with a view to minimizing the damage caused by their wake. “We make the world’s most environmentally friendly power boats,” he said. They are designed in association with the Institute of Ship Science at Southampton University and we supply them to the Port of London Authority.”
The Ecocats are designed to minimize wash when traveling even at high speed; this, said Mayhew, minimized damage on loose soil banks — for example the artificial islands created in the Gulf or reefs in the Red Sea — or the potentially damaging wake that damages super yachts in the many marinas located in the GCC. The Ecocats save 67 percent on fuel costs into the bargain. Mayhew said that he wanted to relocate the boat building business in Saudi Arabia and export the revolutionary craft to the world. “The Kingdom is well positioned in time zones, is very pro-business and the Saudi Investment and Development Fund is attractive but most of all it’s the Saudi “can do” attitude to business that I find very attractive.” The mission returns to the UK on Dec. 14. Details of the companies are available from the British Consulate in Jeddah.
