On 22nd July, the Chamber was privileged to host a business roundtable with HE Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who was accompanied by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UK. The Minister and Ambassador were warmly welcomed to the Chamber by Dr Al-Shuaiby and Rt Hon Baroness Symons.
HE Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi delivered an extended presentation which explained how the Kingdom was moving towards a more diversified economy with a strategy that was motivated by recognition of the need to move away from oil dependency. The Kingdom was seeking to attract smart investment from leading global corporates. The Minister described the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy as a “vision for change”.
HE Dr Al-Qasabi urged potential UK investors to contact the commercial attaché at the Saudi Embassy in London for assistance. The Minister responded to questions from delegates on an extensive range of issues.
In conclusion, HRH the Ambassador remarked that the Kingdom was looking to the future and wished to develop closer relations with its key partners in the UK and western world. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia is not a state that tolerates extremism and terrorism; on the contrary it is a nation that is working hard to promote stability and prosperity in the region.