Lord Mayor of London to promote financial ties amid Gulf tour

A large British economic delegation will begin a tour of five Arab Gulf states, including Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Friday.
The two-week tour ending on January 28 will be headed by Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman Alan Yarrow, and will aim to strengthen historic relations between Britain and Gulf states.
It will also aim to ensure Britain as a favoured regional partner in the fields of financial and vocational services, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.
Partnership, cooperation and the transfer of skills and expertise from London's financial district to the Gulf will aid financial sector growth in these nations, it was suggested.
Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) is one of the highest investing sovereign wealth funds in London, and assumes a vital role in strengthening bilateral relations.
For his part, the Lord Mayor described Gulf states as long-term and extremely important partners.
As London is a leading financial centre, hosting top-of-the-scale international companies and possessing unique expertise, he said that his visits to these countries can support them as they look to diversify their economies and commence ambitious infrastructure projects.