Government officials, sovereign investors and corporate leaders from the UK and Gulf countries are due to meet in London next month for the Business Year’s UK-GCC Strategic Dialogue, as both sides seek to strengthen trade and investment ties.
The day-long event will take place at Guildhall on October 20, several months after the conclusion of the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement in May. Discussions will focus on turning the agreement into new commercial opportunities, investment partnerships and stronger business links between Britain and the Gulf.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Qatar has been confirmed as the latest institutional partner for the event. It joins UK Export Finance, the City of London Corporation, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, TheCityUK and TechUK.
The Dialogue will be held under the patronage of the GCC Secretariat and will bring together representatives from government, financial services, sovereign investment and technology.
Among the confirmed speakers are GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Lady Mayor of London Dame Susan Langley, Revolut Chairman Martin Gilbert, Qatar Free Zones Authority Chief Executive Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Faisal Al-Thani and Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary General Deemah AlYahya.
The programme will also feature Invest Oman CEO Nasser Al Kindi, Muscat Stock Exchange CEO Haitham Al Salmi and Markaz CEO Ali Khalil.
Carlos Martinez, chief executive of The Business Year, said the timing of the event provided an opportunity for the UK and GCC to build on the progress made through the trade agreement.
“This Dialogue brings the people who will shape what comes next into one room: the governments that negotiated the agreement, the sovereign investors who will act on it, and the companies that will build the trade it creates,” he said.
The discussions will focus on bilateral investment, market access and areas where the UK and GCC economies can expand cooperation. High-level networking sessions will also form a central part of the programme.
The event comes as Britain and Gulf countries seek to deepen economic relationships across sectors including finance, technology, infrastructure and investment.
The initiative is supported by a number of regional and business organisations, including the Kuwait Banking Association, Zain Group, Qatar Insurance Company, Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, Muscat Stock Exchange and Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones.
Organisers said the Dialogue is intended to provide a platform for policymakers, investors and businesses to discuss practical opportunities emerging from closer UK-GCC economic relations.
The gathering will also give participating companies and institutions an opportunity to establish contacts with potential partners as the two regions move towards implementing the opportunities created by the trade agreement.
