Britain's business minister will travel to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week to negotiate a trade deal between the United Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council, the economic union comprising the aforementioned Middle Eastern countries along with Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
Kemi Badenoch will meet her counterparts in each country on a five-day trip to make progress on a trade pact. She will also meet the newly-appointed Secretary General of the GCC Jasem Al-Budaiwi. Badenoch, a Conservative ex-banker who unsuccessfully ran for prime minister last year, will also meet investors and business leaders during the Middle East visit.
Ahead of the trip, Badenoch said the United Kingdom had strong trade and investment relations with Gulf countries but she was “determined” to strengthen trade ties between her country and the GCC further.
“The GCC represents an enormous opportunity for UK firms, whether it’s selling brilliant British food and drink products into new markets or offering new consumers for our flourishing digital trade and renewable energy sectors,” Badenoch said in a statement.
