Willie Walsh, Chief Executive, International Airlines Group and President, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry addressing the media. With him are Matt Storey, Director-business Development, Gallowglass Ltd (left) and Will Tyler, Chief Executive, Octink Ltd. Qassim Rahmatullah
DOHA: Representatives from 13 small and medium British enterprises are in Doha as part of a London Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (LCCI) trade mission. The delegation is here to share its London 2012 Olympics experience with Qatar in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup event; and to seek business opportunities.
The trade mission is sponsored by British Airways and KPMG, and supported by UK Trade & Investment London. Leading the LCCI he mission is Willie Walsh, President, LCCI and Chief Executive, International Airlines Group.
The LCCI, which hugely contributed to the 2012 London Olympics legacy, will share its experience with the potential Qatari partners and convince them how SMEs are important for the 2022 Doha event.
Addressing the media here yesterday Willie said LCCI has long promoted opportunities for British business. The LCCIs prime role is the development of international trade and the representation of the interests of the London trading community, and assistance to members in resolving day-to-day trading problems.
This is LCCI’s first construction and sports mission to Qatar and aims to supply delegates with practical information about opportunities arising from Qatar’s needs to develop in time to host the World Cup.
With their massive $220bn infrastructure programme underway and as hosts of the World Cup in 2022, UK companies are well positioned to secure significant business over the next decade.
A wide range of products and services are being promoted by the companies on the mission. Products include: security installations which includes bollards, road blockers and vehicle barriers and construction fencing and barrier protection products. Services represented include: design, build and maintenance of water companies, public relations, global software, international freight services, corporate travel management, design and digital consultancy, supplier of event crew services to ceremonies, specialist design and build contractor for venues, cruise ships and sports facilities, architects, management consultancy in global high technology, multimedia consultancy and project management for the built environment.
The mission participants have a range of objectives including looking for local representatives, qualified distributors or agents and clients. Some will be researching the market for the first time, others will be building on existing contacts and all will be looking to make new contacts.
In 2011, bilateral trade in goods and services reached nearly £6.6bn, a 71 percent increase on 2010. UK visible exports rose from £990m in 2010 to £1.12bn in 2011 - a 14 percent increase (against a Middle East average increase of 6 percent). Exports further increased to 18 percent after the first eleven months of 2012. This growth is in step with the increasing demand for UK goods in Qatar, which has seen exports rise from £363m in 2005 to present day levels. Also, the latest figures for trade in services (2011) show an increase in exports to £569m, up from £504m in 2010.
The Peninsula
