Anas Sarwar UK Saudi investment opportunities

    por Gabriel K: Anas Sarwar

    Trade minister Anas Sarwar sees a lot of room for UK-Saudi investment, especially in AI and tech. The British Business Bank has put a billion pounds behind that, with an AI accelerator around half a billion. Leap is a big chance for both sides to get that synergy going. Aerospace is growing there too, and defense stays a strategic thing. Financial services are the UK's top export, so there's room to grow that in Saudi and the wider GCC. Food and drinks also matter a lot for UK exports. #AnasSarwar #SaudiArabia

    Transcrição (en)

    Which sectors are you most optimistic about in that relationship? Well, one area is AI and technology, something where there is huge knowledge base in the UK and a huge knowledge base emerging here and interest emerging here in Saudi Arabia. How do we maximise that? So as a commitment of AI and technology, we obviously have the British Business Bank that's put a billion pounds behind that. Our AI accelerator is around half a billion pounds. How do we leverage that support to get the investments we want to see around AI and technology? You mentioned Leap as we were speaking coming in. That's a huge opportunity and advert again for Saudi Arabia, but also we believe for the UK. How do we get that synergy and that cross-investment to make sure we're maximising the opportunities for both our countries? This is a global race. We want to make sure we're winning that global race. Capital can go anywhere now in the world. How are we attracting that capital to come to the UK and deliver positive benefits for the people of the UK? That's what I'm really intrigued and interested in. But going beyond AI and tech, we have a huge ability in the UK around aerospace. I know that's an expanding market here in Saudi Arabia. How do we get more cross-investment around our aerospace? Broader defence is, of course, a strategic partner and importance for us. How do we get great alignment around that? The greatest exporter from the UK is around our services industry, particularly financial services. How do we expand and grow that in Saudi Arabia and across the broader GCC? Our food and drinks industry is, of course, a massive part of our export market. Again, how do we maximise the opportunities around that? These, for me, are the key growth areas for the United Kingdom and I think a key interest area for Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC.