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With the sponsoring assistance of Shell, the Energy Industries Council arranged for a UK Trade Mission to visit the expanding markets of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Starting off on November 10th, the delegates were able to spend a full day with Saudi Aramco who arranged for some of their key executives to address the delegation of 19 companies who made up the Mission. After presentations, a guided tour around the Exhibition Centre was arranged and then following lunch, there were a series of 1-2-1 meetings that proved to be extremely useful.
In the evening, a reception took place hosted by Ms Terry Evans from the British Trade Office where some 60 local business representatives had the chance to meet with all the delegates who were each assigned a small meeting area that enabled them to have some fruitful business discussions.
On Sunday 11th, the Mission was provided with a full briefing by Colin Mackenzie, VP & GM Fluor Arabia which highlighted the activities of Fluor within the Kingdom as well as providing a better insight into the overall corporate structure of Fluor plus an overview of their areas of activity both locally as well as on a global basis.
After a period of free time to enable the Mission members to follow up on their own individual objectives, a Group Dinner took place at the newly opened Al-Sambok restaurant on the Corniche.
Monday 12th was the final day in Saudi Arabia before moving north to Kuwait. The Group relocated to Jubail where they were hosted in the morning by KEMYA, the SABIC subsidiary. After a full briefing on their history plus future aspirations, the Mission was given a very detailed tour of the plant which was followed by a delicious lunch.
In the afternoon, the Royal Commission gave an overview on the exceptional plans covering the expansion of Jubail Industrial City. From humble beginnings 20 years ago, it was truly amazing to hear how the ambitious plans for the newly named Jubail-2 Industrial City were being implemented, all very much on a fast track basis.
After the Royal Commission, the Group retired to the Hotel where Neil Wilson from the British Trade Office chaired a quick review meeting on a Trade Mission that turned out to be very successful for all the participants, whether they were experienced hands or first timers to the Kingdom.
Our sincere thanks are due to Terry, Neil and their team plus Geoff Fennah and Richard Todd are to be congratulated for organising the KEMYA visit.
The following day, the mission left the hotel to head for the Saudi/Kuwait border where Steve Seaman from the British Embassy, Kuwait was on hand to assist us with immigration formalities before leading us off to Wafra where we were received by Joint Operations, a JV between Saudi Chevron and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company. Following lunch, they provided an excellent brief on their history, current facilities; future plans as well as how they conduct their business.
 From Wafra, the group travelled on to their Hotel in Fahaheel which is located close to Ahmedi where the main Kuwait Oil Companies are located. After a quick wash and brush up, the group were given an overall briefing by HE Stuart Laing, British Ambassador and a member of the local British Business Forum. This was followed by a very pleasant barbeque which took place on the rooftop restaurant of the hotel.
Wednesday morning the 14th saw the group being welcomed by a high calibre delegation of representatives from Kuwait Oil Company, which is the body responsible for all upstream activities. Following a series of very informative presentations ranging from vendor registration, project reviews and all their future plans, Graham Bellwood from AMEC concluded the morning session by outlining the excellent success story of how AMEC entered the Kuwait market and how their business has developed to what it is today. A superb lunch then followed which allowed the mission members to engage with the many KOC representatives who came and joined the party.
In the evening, the Ambassador kindly hosted a reception which over 70 people from the local business community attended and where some very good contacts were made.
Thursday the 15th was officially the last day of the Trade Mission and what a good start!! We were met in the morning by an executive team from the downstream company, Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation (KNPC) management including the Chairman himself. A substantial breakfast was waiting, which nobody warned us about before proceeding to an auditorium where the Chairman gave an official welcome and Michael Bovey as mission Leader duly responded. Proceedings then got underway where the delegates were firstly briefed on KNPC activities including vendor registration procedures as well as future expansion plans. Individual briefings then took place on both the Clean Fuels Project as well as the New Refinery Project that carry a combined total investment of $20 billion. Lunch was informal and laid out in such a way that the delegates could have 1-2-1 discussions with the many senior officials who joined us as well as the presenters themselves. After a guided tour of their offices, we were bid farewell and returned to the hotel where Steve Seaman provided an opportunity to reflect on that sector of the Mission. Once again, we must extend our sincere thanks, this time to Steve and his team, for such a well organised visit which went so well for everybody concerned.
On a final note, we would advise that both KOC & KNPC will be presenting at EIConnect 08 which is taking place in London in February and also as a post script, we can advise that as this Mission was so successful (It sold out within 3 working days!) and so informative to all the participants, we are hoping to repeat in April next year where it will coincide with the planned “British Week” celebrations that will take place in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia from the 20th. Business opportunities in both the Kingdom and Kuwait, especially in the Energy Sector are at an all time high for UK companies and the EIC is working hard to ensure that their membership is fully briefed with information and contact details that we are sure you will agree are the key ingredients to successful business growth, especially in this region.
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