London, February 8, 2024, Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi is spearheading the groundwork for the Economic and Social Pillar meetings of the Saudi-British Strategic Partnership Council, currently underway in London until February 8.
The preparatory efforts entail the involvement of a distinguished Saudi delegation comprising 19 officials from 10 government entities.
In the course of these meetings, Al-Qasabi, accompanied by Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom, engaged in bilateral deliberations with esteemed British counterparts. Notable figures in attendance included Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch, and Minister of State for Investment at the Department for Business and Trade Lord Dominic Johnson. Discussions also ensued with Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Business and Investment Franck Petitgas, UK Infrastructure Bank Chief Operating Officer James Emmett, and British Museum Director Sir Mark Jones.
The dialogues were centered on augmenting economic partnerships across priority sectors for both nations, activating previously agreed-upon initiatives, and delineating joint executive plans for the ongoing year. Moreover, avenues to broaden business prospects, attract quality investments, and incentivize British companies to expand their footprint in Saudi Arabia and capitalize on promising opportunities were explored.
Tomorrow's agenda features two slated meetings. The initial session, to be held at the Department of Business and Trade, will involve discussions with Minister of State for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani. Topics of focus include enhancing supply-chain agility, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in economic endeavors, and knowledge exchange. Furthermore, collaboration in joint mining ventures, particularly those pertaining to rare minerals, will be examined.
The subsequent meeting will take place at the Department of Education, where Al-Qasabi will explore bilateral initiatives in education and training with Minister of State for Schools Damian Hinds, along with opportunities for their advancement.
The preparatory discussions will culminate in technical team sessions under the Economic and Social Pillar, addressing cooperation initiatives in trade, investment, education, healthcare, energy, industry, culture, and sports.
Representatives from various Saudi government entities, including the Ministries of Energy, Education, Health, Commerce, Industry and Mineral Resources, Investment, Sport, Culture, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and the National Competitiveness Center, constitute the Saudi delegation.
