Gulf Construction Online - Association cherishes trade links

Britain & the Mideast

Association cherishes trade links

01 June 2011

AT A time when there is political and economic uncertainty in many parts of the world, the UK’s links with the Gulf states are stronger than ever and once again construction is proving to be one of the key sectors where mutually beneficial trade links are thriving, says a top official of the Construction Products Association.

Those parts of the region that were caught up in the global economic maelstrom at the end of the last decade are well on the road to recovery, whilst countries immune to these events seem stronger than ever, he adds.

“UK designers, contractors, and product manufacturers are looking at Dubai with far more confidence than they did a couple of years ago,” says Michael Ankers, chief executive of the Construction Products Association. “Abu Dhabi is an exciting market that goes from strength to strength, while confidence in Qatar has been boosted by its success in securing the 2022 World Cup and the recent visit of HM the Queen demonstrates the growing links between that state and the UK. Similarly, the pivotal role of Saudi Arabia, and the ambitious construction projects in that country offer enormous opportunities for companies in all parts of the construction supply chain.”

The association represents manufacturers and suppliers of construction products in the UK, an industry with an annual turnover approaching £50 billion ($80.3 billion). “Over 10 per cent of what UK companies manufacture is exported; and outside of Europe, the Gulf region is the major destination for UK products. It is not surprising, therefore, that the best-supported of the overseas shows that the association attends, with financial backing from the government’s UKTI (UK Trade & Investment), are in the Gulf,” he says.

Already this year, the association has taken a group to Project Qatar in May. “We had a group of 10 companies supported by UKTI, all of whom had a successful show and we are hopeful of an even larger contingent in 2012,” says Ankers.

Looking forward, The Big 5 show in Dubai in November remains the largest construction show in the region with visitors from across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena).

This show attracts the largest number of UK companies to any overseas show and the number of companies that have booked for this year’s event is already ahead on last year’s figures.

Coupled with the UK government’s Britain in the Region initiative around the same time as The Big 5, the commitment to this part of the Gulf is as strong as ever.

“March 2012 will see us take a group once again with UKTI assistance to The Big 5 Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, following on from the launch event in February 2011, with interest from the UK in this huge market stronger than ever,” he says.
While UK products have a worldwide reputation for their quality, another key area in which the country is gaining a lead is in sustainability.

“While clearly UK companies are not alone in seeing opportunities in the Gulf region, what we particularly have to offer is an expertise in developing projects with high sustainability criteria,” Ankers points out. “The UK government has set out to deliver all new homes to a ‘zero carbon’ standard by 2016 and aims to achieve the same high standards for all non-domestic buildings by the end of the decade. This is setting a global benchmark and the industry is responding through the development of innovative designs and product solutions.”

He continues: “Sustainability, of course, extends beyond carbon and UK designers are acquiring a global reputation for their ability to design whole cities to high sustainability standards.

“Product manufacturers are responding by looking at ways of reducing waste in the manufacture and installation of products, putting recycling and reuse of products high on the agenda, minimising the use of water, and ensuring products are responsibly sourced.”

“All these are issues rising rapidly up the agenda in all different climates in all parts of the world, and the UK is keen to help the Gulf states and other countries achieve these higher sustainability standards,” he concludes.