Opportunity Arabia 7 Conference – Middle East Association
September 23, 2010
London
Chairman’s Welcome
Sir Alan Munro KCMG
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Good morning to you and thank you for making it as this comparatively early hour. But we have a full day, a very busy day. And I think a very fulfilling one too in front of us. This of course, as you know, is the seventh in this very successful series of conferences on business with the Kingdom which is organized by the MEA. And it is a privilege for me, indeed once again, to be asked to chair it and to share it with you.
It is, I think, the high point in this country of the promotion of our business with the Kingdom and this year as you will see from the program, the speakers, the distinguished speakers, it is particularly focused as a hands on event. Those with whom you will be mixing and whom you will be hearing are practitioners directly in the art of business with the Kingdom and with first-hand knowledge of the opportunities, the growing expanding opportunities, that are offered. So, do take advantage of their practical experience. There will be organized, present among us a number of individuals with direct experience and ability to produce matchmaking for you. These are the roving experts. Some of them may not have arrived yet. But nevertheless, any of those speaking to you are in that capacity and they are here on behalf of a number of firms in the Kingdom as well as what some representatives of UKTI, both in Kingdom and in London. We also have the Offset Office, one of our sponsors here, and Tony Smith who heads up that very successful, and longstanding exercise, is also here. They have a stand as well, for you.
Our sponsors, indeed we are most grateful to them. The primary ones are the British Offset Office, the Saad Group and BMI. We’ve got Ahmed Nassar of Bin Ali Holding Company who had long contacts with us particularly on the construction side too. Of course the Kanoo group, who have been as I remember as my time as ambassador there in the Gulf War, have been intricately involved with Britain and her business in the Gulf area since the time of Queen Victoria, and that goes back a little way, doesn’t it? So we are well set up today.
A point I think I want to bring out is – you have your networking time and all that – but here you now see Saudi Arabia on the verge of – embarked indeed on – a massive, one of the world’s comparatively largest infrastructure and development programs and a point that you need to bear in mind, a point which should be a source of confidence for those of us in this country doing business in the Kingdom, we have the great advantage, and I’ve seen this over a number of years now, having behind us a long established business relationship as well as a long established political relationship. And this means a lot to the Saudis and it should mean a lot to us.
It is in their minds, not just the older generation, but the younger ones too. Many of them have their higher education in this country. This is a springboard for us. It’s a platform which some of our competitor countries do not have. And it is a point that we should have faith in and use it to develop our contacts with confidence because we are known over a long period as good business partners and what we produce – goods or services – is widely respected in the Kingdom. So keep that in mind and allow it to give you confidence, I say to you, in your business dealings.
There are of course other organizations – the Saudi-British Business Council, which Baroness Symons chairs extremely competently, is an active body of liaison, backchannel liaison, informal liaison if you like. Do take advantage of her presence here if you will to explore down that road of the Business Council. I’m also a member of that myself and I’m very happy to talk about it.
One point of administration before Michael Thomas tells us something about the Middle East Association’s role here is that one of our sponsors, BMI, has generously, and once again, indeed, offered return tickets to the Kingdom. In order to take your place in the draw, which will occur after the lunch, we ask you to put your visiting cards, one only please, in the bowls which are, I think, are going to be on the tables at the coffee break. If you would like to do that.
We do coincide with the Saudi National Day and that is one reason why, they’re all having to stand by, there is only a minor representation here today from the Saudi Embassy. They are fully aware of this conference. Their commercial department certainly is. One or two of us will have to disappear in the middle of the day, and pay our respects up on Curzon Street, but we will be back very swiftly among you. I shall have to go myself shortly after 12. David Lloyd will take the chair for that final session of the morning and then we will reconvene with you immediately after lunch.
Take advantage of all the matchmaking, the networking chances you have. It’s good to see so many of you here and indeed a high proportion of new establishments finding their feet in the Kingdom.
Michael..
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Sir Alan Munro KCMG
HM Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1989 to 1993 and currently Director of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce
Sir Alan Munro’s long and distinguished diplomatic career has included many appointments in the Arab world, including as Ambassador to Algeria. He also served as Director for the Middle East and North Africa in the FCO before his appointment as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
He continues his involvement in the region as Director of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, as an adviser to the British Offset Office and to a number of companies and as a leader of high-level British business missions (including a number to Saudi Arabia). He features prominently in the media as an expert analyst and commentator on Middle East issues.
Sir Munro explains, “I am delighted to be taking the chair at this gathering on doing business with Saudi Arabia. These annual conferences organized by the Middle East Association on the opportunities for business in the Kingdom have proved to offer important insights into the commercial and investment scene in this most important of the U.K.’s Middle East markets, as well as bringing people together to develop new trading connections. Britain’s goods and services continue to enjoy a high reputation within Saudi Arabia’s business community..”
Source: Middle East Association
http://www.the-mea.co.uk/
