UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) provides a broad range of support services to British companies wishing to trade with or invest in Kuwait through commercial teams based in the UK and in the British embassy in Kuwait.
As regards exports, UKTI support in Kuwait focuses on the oil and gas, construction, education and training, financial services and security sectors and is delivered in partnership with a range of key business stakeholders. A recent visit by the Lord Mayor of the City of London provided the opportunity not only to lobby for better market access for financial services, but also to promote, by means of a seminar, education and training in the financial sector. Recent visits by HRH the Duke of York in his role as UK Special Representative for Trade and Investment have been used to provide high-level support to UK firms in bidding for major projects in the oil, financial and construction sectors. A mission and seminar by British Expertise (ex BCCB) in March this year will showcase UK capabilities in the area of intelligent and energy efficient building design. In terms of inward investment the embassy works closely with the City of London and Kuwaiti institutions to maintain the current high level of investment made in and through London.
The information is as follows.
(a) UK exports of food and animals to Kuwait were worth about £24.8 million in 2005 and £23.3 million from January to November 2006.
(b) Data for UK exports of services to Kuwait are not available. The ONS “UK Balance of Payments Pink Book” gives a figure of £3,819 million for UK exports of services in 2005 to Gulf Arabian countries other than Saudi Arabia.
(c) Data for military exports are not available by country. The MOD UK Defence Statistics gives an estimate of £207 million for identified defence equipment exports to the Middle East and North Africa, though these estimates are outside the scope of National Statistics.