Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Middle East: Trade

Thursday 14 January 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Britain has launched a joint trade and investment review with the Gulf Cooperation Council to deepen trade relationships.
  • Total trade between Britain and the Gulf Cooperation Council stood at almost 41 billion in the year to June 2020.
  • The Minister highlighted the education sector as an area with significant opportunities for British companies in the Middle East.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robert Halfon Con
Business & Trade
Context

No specific incident prompted this question, but it is part of broader discussions on enhancing international economic ties post-Brexit.

Question

What steps she is taking to strengthen the UK's trade relationship with the Middle East. The question aims to understand concrete actions taken or planned by the government to deepen these relationships and explore new opportunities for British businesses in the region.

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena (Minister of State for Trade Policy)

Britain has strong bilateral trading relationships with our friends in the middle east and a clear ambition to deepen them. That is why we have launched a joint trade and investment review with the Gulf Cooperation Council, with which total trade stood at almost £41 billion in the year to June 2020. We continue our work with other parts of the region too, particularly where we have trade agreements and are seeking to maximise new opportunities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for concrete steps or initiatives was not directly answered with a timeline or mechanism beyond launching reviews and continuing work.

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Q2 Robert Halfon Con
Business & Trade
Context

The all-party group on the Kurdistan Region in Iraq identified opportunities for British businesses across various sectors, including energy, solar power, film production, higher education, and agriculture. The report suggested a second official trade mission could boost investment and trade.

Question

Will the Minister talk with his colleagues, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the APPG to consider how such a trade mission could boost investment and trade with our allies in Iraq, who constantly seek British expertise, goods, and services? The recent report from the all-party group on the Kurdistan Region highlights specific areas of opportunity.

Answer from Ranil Jayawardena (Minister of State for Trade Policy)

Sadly, such travel is somewhat restricted at this moment in time, but my right hon. Friend is right to highlight the opportunities across the whole middle east region. For instance, in the education sector, which I know is a particular passion of his, my Department has supported companies to win more than 30 contracts in the middle east, worth more than £58 million over the past year. I look forward to working with my right hon. Friend to take that forward.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for organising a trade mission was not directly addressed; instead, the Minister highlighted existing opportunities and contracts won in education sector without committing to arranging a formal mission.

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