UK-Qatar Trade and Investment Conference cited as a signal of strengthening relationship between nations.
A senior delegation from Birmingham City Council and inward investment agency Marketing Birmingham is to visit Doha on 15th-17th January to explore ways to build on the city’s existing ties with Qatar in the areas of investment, education, science and research. This follows the successful bilateral talks between Prime Minister Theresa May and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, last year where they spoke of the strength of the UK-Qatar relationship.
The British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, HE Mr Ajay Sharma, said: “I am delighted that such a senior delegation from Birmingham is coming to Qatar. Our bilateral relationship is already deep and diverse. But there is so much more we can do together from trade and investment to co-operation on healthcare and education. London has naturally been a focus for the relationship between our countries. But other parts of the UK are also extremely interested in developing further their co-operation with Qatar. I hope that the visit by this delegation will lead to a new page in the relationship between Qatar and Birmingham.”
Cllr John Clancy, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I’m pleased to be visiting Qatar to explore partnerships and to promote current investment and trade opportunities in Birmingham. It’s vital to build links and trade with the rest of the world and seize all the opportunities that are opening up to us as we exit from the EU.”
Cllr Clancy cited the upcoming UK-Qatar Trade and Investment Conference, being held in Birmingham in March, as a strong signal of the confidence shown by foreign investors in the city and the wider region.
The Birmingham conference marks the first time the UK and Qatar have held a high-level trade event outside of London, where our world-leading sectors and UK investment opportunities in the regions will be promoted. The Conference will also provide an exclusive opportunity for business leaders and senior UK and Qatari Ministers to network and promote current investment and trade opportunities around the UK.
Greater Birmingham has the highest concentration of businesses outside London – home to over 112,000 companies including 2,000 international firms. Major employers investing in the region include HSBC, Jaguar Land Rover, MG Motors, extraenergy and Deutsche Bank.
Cllr Clancy continued: “The conference is key to securing greater bilateral trade between Qatar and the UK, which currently stands at over £5 billion per year, and a chance to showcase the best of British industry. The collaborative, ambitious projects being delivered by Birmingham will help drive a post-Brexit, global Britain towards economic prosperity.”
