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Arab Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Rt Hon David Lammy MP's VISIT TO KUWAIT UNDERSCORES DEEP FRIENDSHIP AND FUTURE PARTNERSHIP
KUWAIT CITY, July 9: The United Kingdom's commitment to its longstanding friendship with the State of Kuwait was reaffirmed this week during an official visit by the UK S ecretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, who was honoured to meet with senior Kuwaiti leadership for the 2025 UK-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue. The UK Foreign Secretary was received by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al - Khaled Al - Hamad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al - Ahmad Al - Sabah and Foreign Minister HE Abdullah Ali Al -Yahya. Discussions reflected the strength of the historic relationship between Kuwait and the United Kingdom that spans over 250 years and touched on a wide range of shared interests including regional affairs, defence cooperation, , trade and investment, and international development partnerships. As part of the visit, two MoUs were signed between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, on providing joint emergency humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations affected by conflicts in Somalia and Sudan. Both parties will provide a total contribution of five million dollars to support ICRC's humanitarian work in Somalia and a total of 10 million dollars to support UNICEF's work in sustaining vital primary healthcare, nutrition and child protection services in Sudan. These agreements represent an important step in continuing to build the UK-Kuwait international development partnership following the success of the first joint project in September 2024, which provided aid to Gaza and Yemen. The visit also included a meeting with H.E. the Minister of Finance & Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Noora Al - Fassam, where discussions focused on bilateral trade now totalling £6.1 billion per year & investment, advancements on UK – GCC Free Trade Agreement negotiations and UK's interest in Kuwait's Vision 2035. During the visit, the Foreign Secretary visited the Commercial Bank of Kuwait to meet with Chairman Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Jaber Al-Sabah and one of several British Kuwaiti joint venture businesses contributing to Kuwait's economic development - Kuwait British Renewables. The meeting underlined the UK's ongoing commitment to supporting private sector collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation between the two countries. A special meeting was also held with young Kuwaiti diplomats and professionals at Saud Al Nasser Al Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al -Ahmad Al- Sabah. The Foreign Secretary commended their passion, talent and global outlook, and welcomed their role in shaping the future of Kuwait-UK relations The UK S ecretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs - Rt Hon David Lammy MP, commented on the bilateral relationship stating: 'Kuwait and the United Kingdom have an enduring, close, deep friendship bounded by people-to-people and strong cultural links, a strong defence and security partnership, we've been trading for over 250 years and out first bilateral relations go back to 1899 of course supplemented by the relationship between our two royal families. I am in Kuwait to conduct a strategic dialogue, an important strategic dialogue that sets up the next era of our relations. There's more we can do on trade, and business, and investment, there's more that we can do on security and defence at this challenging time for global security and peace particularly here in the Middle East.' Reflecting on the visit, British Ambassador Belinda Lewis, stated: 'This visit marks another chapter in over 125 years of close friendship between Kuwait and the United Kingdom. It comes at a time of deepening cooperation across numerous sectors including trade, humanitarian development and cultural exchange. The British Embassy in Kuwait looks forward to building on the momentum of this important visit and continuing to work in partnership with Kuwaiti institutions for the benefit of both our peoples.' Head of ICRC GCC Regional Delegation, Mamadou Sow stated: 'This joint commitment by the Kuwait Fund and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office sends a strong signal of solidarity with the people of Somalia. With their support, we're able to deliver essential health and water services in areas where needs are urgent and often invisible. It's a testament to the power of principled humanitarian action and to the leadership of Kuwait and the UK in placing humanity at the heart of international cooperation.' UNICEF Gulf Area Office Representative, Eltayeb Adam noted: 'This generous joint contribution from the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office and the Kuwait Fund comes at a critical time for children in Sudan. It is more than financial support; it is a lifeline. This partnership shows what's possible when long-standing partners unite with a shared purpose: to protect children's rights, restore essential services, and bring hope to those affected by crisis. UNICEF deeply values this growing humanitarian collaboration, which is helping build a more resilient future for Sudan's most vulnerable children.'
Muscat Daily
5 days ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
British Omani Society hosts high-level talks on trade cooperation
London, UK – The British Omani Society (BOS), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in London, hosted a high-level panel discussion and networking reception on Thursday to explore strategic business opportunities between the United Kingdom and Oman. Held at BOS headquarters in Mayfair, the event brought together senior officials and private sector leaders from both countries. It came at a pivotal moment in the ongoing UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, offering a platform to reaffirm Oman's position as a stable and growing destination for trade and investment. Richard Stanford, Chair of BOS, opened the evening with a welcome address outlining the society's role in fostering bilateral engagement. The panel discussion was led by Pankaj Khimji, Adviser for Foreign Trade and International Cooperation at Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, who provided an overview of Oman's foreign trade priorities. Other panellists included Sir Philip Barton, former Permanent Undersecretary at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Chris Breeze, Managing Director of Ellipse Projects UK and Chair of the BOS Business Subcommittee. The session was moderated by Stanford and focused on opportunities for deeper bilateral cooperation across trade, infrastructure and innovation. Stanford said the discussions highlighted 'the growing momentum in UK-Oman trade relations and the shared ambition to deepen this economic cooperation through mutual investment'. He noted that the long-standing ties between the two countries continue to provide a strong foundation for future collaboration. Following the panel, guests attended the BOS Summer Business Reception, co-hosted by Omani British Society, which is chaired by Saleh Zakwani. Khimji and Tom Wintle, UK Chief Negotiator for the GCC Free Trade Agreement, addressed the gathering as Guests of Honour. The event was attended by the ambassadors of both countries, senior government officials, and representatives from a wide range of industries in the UK and Oman. Discussions throughout the evening reflected a shared commitment to identifying new opportunities for cooperation, innovation and sustainable growth.
