Lord Mayor visits Saudi Arabia 10 to 14 February 2006


Alderman David Brewer, Lord Mayor of the City of London, will visit Saudi Arabia from 10 to 14 February 2006. He will be accompanied by a delegation of senior representatives from companies in the City of London. The visit will include meetings in Jeddah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, where the Rt Hon Alderman David Brewer will meet senior Saudi Ministers and officials.

On 11 February, he will give a keynote address at the Jeddah Economic Forum on the financing of mega infrastructure projects; and on 12 February will open a seminar on the UK experience in one such financing model, PPP (Public Private Partnerships). The Lord Mayor will also meet representatives of leading UK companies in the Kingdom, their Saudi counterparts in the services sector; and young Saudi people at an event hosted by the British Council.

In Riyadh on 13 February, the Lord Mayor and delegation will have roundtable meetings with the Capital Markets Authority and SAMA. They will also be hosting a seminar on professional financial training and education. In the Eastern Province, they will meet senior businessmen at the EP Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also call on senior Saudi Aramco executives.

The Lord Mayor’s key role is to promote the businesses in the City of London and the services it has to offer. He is the "ambassador" for the UK based financial services industry, headquartered in the City, but including the regional financial centres such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Bristol. This task requires time overseas promoting the services of the City. He also receives visiting Heads of State and Government on behalf of the British government and the City; hosts seminars, conferences and banquets for them, as well as other entertainment for overseas ministers and senior businessmen. This will be the Lord Mayor's first visit to Saudi Arabia in his present capacity.

Asked about his forthcoming visit, the Lord Mayor said:

“This is a particularly exciting time to be visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The strength of the Saudi economy, WTO accession and the liberalisation and opening up of the economy are combining to inspire a marked boost in business confidence.

“The UK has a strong tradition of co-operation with Saudi Arabia based on mutual friendship and respect. The Kingdom remains our largest trading and investment partner in the Middle East. I look forward to discussing this relationship and how we can strengthen our ties even further.

“The City of London is the world’s leading international financial and business centre. Whether it’s banking, securities, asset management, foreign exchange, insurance and reinsurance, derivatives and commodities, shipping, project finance or professional services such as law and accountancy, the City has become the destination of choice for experience and expertise. We look forward to sharing this experience and expertise with our Saudi counterparts.” - City of London

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