DOHA: The UK Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green arrived in Qatar for a two-day visit, accompanied by a business delegation of 15 UK infrastructure companies.
The success of the London 2012 Olympics underlines the strong contribution British companies can make to Qatar’s ambitious infrastructure development programme. Qatar is currently the fastest growing economy in the world, with a growth rate of 16.3 percent in 2010, and 20 percent for 2011.
Lord Green said: “The UK and Qatar have an important trading relationship and my visit underlines Britain’s commitment to see this further strengthened. Prime Minister David Cameron and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani agreed last year to target a doubling of bilateral trade to £4.4bn by 2015. We are on track to achieve this ambition, with UK exports up 9 percent so far this year.
“Britain’s highly successful 2012 Olympics – a stunning global sport pageant delivered under time and under budget – was a showcase for British infrastructure expertise. With this wealth of experience British companies can make a major contribution as Qatar implements the 2030 National Vision and prepares for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Qatar is also an important investor in the UK with assets such as London’s new £2bn iconic skyscraper, The Shard, the Olympic housing village in East London and Harrods department store. Britain is open for business and we continue to welcome inward investment from Qatar.”
The business delegation accompanying Lord Green includes those who were involved in the design, delivery and project management of the Olympic Park and the regeneration of Stratford.
The Peninsula
