MEET FACE-TO-FACE WITH KEY CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES FROM JORDAN, LEBANON AND SYRIA VISITING THE UK . . .

. . . LOOKING TO DO BUSINESS AND FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH UK COMPANIES

UK Trade & Investment is organising an inward mission from Jordan, Lebanon and Syria in June 2010, focusing on the construction sector. This will be an opportunity for you to meet major companies from these countries that are interested in sourcing the latest construction technologies, practices and products and developing commercial partnerships with UK companies.

Jordan – Despite the world economic downturn, the construction sector is still active in Jordan. Interest in this sector from Gulf and Arab developers is increasing as Jordan is viewed as an economically and politically stable country in the Middle East. Key developers who are mainly self financing their projects and not dependant on bank financing are seeing the downturn as an opportunity. Trade with Jordan is heavily in the UK's favour, with £164m exported in goods in 2007, and just £36m
imported. British exports have increased last year after three years of decline. The UK remains the10th largest exporter to Jordan.

Lebanon – Construction is one of Lebanon's most active sectors, this is a result of a high level of private investment and the government has a reconstruction and development programme which is in varying stages of completion. UK engineering consultants and architects are involved in the design and execution of several projects in the private and public sectors, and UK suppliers of construction equipment and building materials continue to supply the market with a variety of their products.

Syria – The construction sector in Syria has grown during the global financial crisis by receiving many investors who are diversifying from Gulf markets, are aware of UK expertise in the construction sector and are willing to bring new methods in construction to the Syrian market, such as sustainable buildings. The Syrian government has recently announced its intentions to enhance the economic reform process (aiming at growth rates between 5-7% in 2015) and one of the ways they
hope to achieve this is by launching a PPP programme and plans to develop infrastructure and introduce new concepts of sustainability into this crucial sector.


The companies coming to the UK on this mission include:

• The largest Syrian private real estate company, with a diverse portfolio consisting of a range of hotels and resorts, master-planned communities, and mixed-use centres with hospitality as the dominant component in its portfolio. By 2013, their hospitality portfolio will become the largest in the Levant area with more than 1,200 keys and 26 F&B outlets currently under development.
• Syria’s premier developer of leisure property and shopping malls, who plan to develop four new shopping malls in the UAE, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. The four new shopping malls represent a total investment by the company of US$3.5 billion over the next 5 years.
• A Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District.
• One of the largest design and architectural firms in Lebanon with its head office in Beirut and its regional offices in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco and Syria. The company is leading on a number of high profile projects in Beirut, i.e. Sama Beirut ($500 Million), Beit Misk Village ($1.5 Billion).

Opportunities to meet the delegation

• A five day visit to the UK
• 28th June Site Visits
• 29th June Site Visit and Seminar (London)
• 30th June Site Visit and Seminar (Midlands)
• 1st July Site Visit and 1-1 meetings
• 2nd July Mission End

If your company would like to host a site visit or be involved in the mission programme please contact Jeana Parmar on 02476 236290 or email Jeana@btob.co.uk