The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) in partnership with Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Kuwait organised an Aviation webinar on 4 August 2021 to showcase the current development works across the airport, provide an overview of the wider airport master plan, and highlight upcoming opportunities for UK companies.
In her welcome address to the 80 companies attending the event, HMA Belinda Lewis stated that Aviation connectivity contributes to the success of businesses in several different ways. It facilitates the movement of services and goods, workers and tourists, and drives business innovation and investment. In doing so, aviation generates employment and helps to improve the productivity of the wider economy in both UK and Kuwait.
Kuwait Airport Expansion is a large scale, long-term development programme, with a wide range of packages across airport infrastructure, buildings and systems. A number of UK companies have already successfully contributed to the project and there is scope for further involvement in both current and upcoming opportunities.
Speaking at the event Eng. Duaij Khalaf Alotaibi (Deputy Director General for Aviation Safety & Air Transport Affairs) highlighted the development ‘‘This Kuwait Aviation masterplan foresees an ambitious expansion plan in the history of airport, which will transform it into a three-runway airport with an impressive new terminal building designed by Foster +Partners. The new terminal will act as the new front door to the state of Kuwait as an icon helping to put Kuwait on the aviation map globally. In order to support this new terminal, there will also be a variety of other projects to help bring the rest of the airport to the same level as the new facilities. In addition to the new third runway, these include a new control tower, new central runway, new cargo facilities, new general aviation facilities, new aprons, and future terminal buildings.’’
Today, the UK has third-largest aviation network in the world, and the second largest aerospace manufacturing sector. The aviation sector has a turnover of over £60 billion, contributes over £22 billion to our GDP and almost one million UK jobs are directly or indirectly supported by it.
The UK has a global reputation for innovation and a skilled workforce. The UK has strengths in aviation across a number of different activities such as the design, manufacture and assembly of aerospace products (such as wings, engines, aircraft) as well as their maintenance, repair and overhaul, the operation of an aviation network (such as airport operations, baggage handling, security screening, airspace management, regulation etc.) and the regulatory framework.
UK also specializes in delivering services in the design, master planning and construction of airports, the operation of airports, including cutting-edge initiatives in air traffic control and the movement of people, autonomous transit systems and security and specialist equipment supply.
Graham Bolton, Chair of the British Aviation Group (BAG) remarked “The UK provides world class expertise to meet the challenges facing global airports, helping improve passenger service, sustainability and business performance. UK companies play a central role in the planning, development and operation of and operation of leading airports around the world – and I’m delighted that many are involved in developments in Kuwait.” BAG is the primary representative body for British companies involved in aviation and airport development and operations, with over 200 member companies providing an extensive range of goods and services.
BAG is the leading representative body for British companies involved in aviation and airport development and operations
Shikha Tiwari, Director/First Secretary commercial at the DIT in British Embassy Kuwait emphasized UK and Kuwaiti companies to reach out to DIT Team for advice and explore areas of collaboration between the entities of the two countries.
For more information please contact:
Siraj Hatim|Senior Trade Adviser |Infrastructure | Creative Industries |Technology & Smart Cities | Agritech
Department for International Trade |British Embassy Kuwait |PO Box 2, Safat 13001, Kuwait |
Tel: +965 2259 4345 |Mob: +965 9809 0168 |FTN: 8406 4345| E-mail: Siraj.Hatim@fcdo.gov.uk
DIT MEAP Twitter | DIT LinkedIn | GREAT.gov.uk | DIT Twitter | Exporting is GREAT Facebook| YouTube | gov.uk/dit
DIT organises first UK-Kuwait Airport webinar with partners- Press Release Final.pdf (109 KB)
