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British Trade Commissioner: Saudi Arabia is the Largest Destination of UK Exports in the Region

Simon Penney, the British Trade Commissioner (HTMC) for the Middle East and Pakistan.
Simon Penney, the British Trade Commissioner (HTMC) for the Middle East and Pakistan.
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British Trade Commissioner: Saudi Arabia is the Largest Destination of UK Exports in the Region

Simon Penney, the British Trade Commissioner (HTMC) for the Middle East and Pakistan.
Simon Penney, the British Trade Commissioner (HTMC) for the Middle East and Pakistan.

Simon Penney, the British Trade Commissioner (HTMC) for the Middle East and Pakistan, said Saudi-British efforts were underway to increase and maximize partnerships and corporate business in various fields.

He noted that Riyadh represented the largest destination for UK exports, with an increase of 24 percent over the last three years, stressing that the two kingdoms enjoyed a strong long-term bilateral relationship, based on a number of pillars, including trade and investment.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Penney said opportunities abound in all the diverse sectors of the economy in Saudi Arabia.

He added that his team at the Department for International Trade was working closely with the Invest in Saudi Arabia initiative and the Ministry of Investment on many of the huge Saudi projects, with the aim to encourage British companies to invest in Saudi Arabia.

“Of course, investment goes both ways, and we are looking to thrive and increase business in the UK and Saudi Arabia,” Penney stated.

According to the British official, the partnership between the two kingdoms continues to grow on solid bases. Referring to trade statistics for the end of the first quarter of 2022, Penney said that Saudi Arabia was the largest destination for UK exports in the region, due to the significant growth in service exports from the UK, which has increased by 24 percent over the past three years.

Total trade in goods and services (export and import) between the UK and Saudi Arabia amounted to £11.3 billion in the four quarters to the end of the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 6.4 percent, or £683 million, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

On the United Kingdom’s readiness to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in the medical and health care sector, Penney stressed that health care and life sciences were essential for both kingdoms, noting that cooperation in this field was an important part of the British bid for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Penney, who recently participated in the Global Health Forum in Riyadh, stressed his country’s readiness to provide, through British health care experts, advice and participation in many health care initiatives in Saudi Arabia, noting that after the Covid-19 pandemic, the opportunities for cooperation in these sectors increased significantly.

He said that the forum provided a great opportunity to invest in diagnostic technology and remote care, adding that the participating British delegation represented the best innovators in the field of digitization and healthcare transformation, and reflected the UK’s commitment to strengthening healthcare partnerships with Riyadh.

“We participated in the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh with a high-level delegation from 26 British organizations, and we traveled to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The delegation included five institutions affiliated with the National Health Service, which together provide a range of important and specialized services, including primary care, mental health services, education and training, out-of-hospital services, and digital services,” Penney told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The British delegation to the forum was one of the largest trade missions from the United Kingdom in the field of health care and life sciences to Saudi Arabia, he revealed. It included the NHS Trust, in addition to MedTech, Genomics, Digital Health and Health Care Services, in partnership with Mott MacDonald and Health Care World.

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Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Yemen’s Defense Minister, Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri, does not expect Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to stop even if the Gaza war ends. He also warns of rising tensions in the region, which could lead to a major conflict.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Daeri affirmed close coordination between Yemeni forces and the Saudi-led Arab Coalition. He praised Saudi Arabia’s key role in the coalition, highlighting its continuous support for Yemen.

Al-Daeri said there has been significant progress in unifying government-aligned military forces, with committees set up by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) establishing a joint operations authority.

Despite challenges, he remains optimistic that these efforts will help unify the military command against the common enemy — Yemen’s Houthi militias.

Al-Daeri warned that Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea are a serious threat to Yemen and the region. He noted that the Houthis are using these attacks to distract from their internal problems and are trying to capitalize on Yemeni sympathy for Palestine by claiming support for Gaza.

He added that the Houthis are unlikely to stop targeting international shipping, even if the Gaza war ends, and are constantly seeking new alliances with terrorist groups to strengthen their position.

Al-Daeri, accused Iran of fueling instability in Yemen by supporting Houthi militias for years, smuggling weapons and military experts to spread chaos without regard for regional stability.

On US relations, Al-Daeri said ties are good but military cooperation remains limited. He noted that US military aid, suspended in 2014, has not yet returned to previous levels.

Al-Daeri said his visit to Saudi Arabia was part of ongoing coordination with the Joint Operations Command and the Saudi Ministry of Defense to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries.

During his “productive” visit, Al-Daeri met with several military leaders, congratulated the new commander of the Joint Operations, Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Salman, and held talks with officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.

Al-Daeri emphasized the strong defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, particularly during Yemen’s war in recent years.

He noted that the high level of coordination with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab Coalition members has significantly improved regional military readiness.

Al-Daeri said relations with Saudi Arabia are growing stronger, with both countries working closely together to fulfill their missions in the region.

He described defense cooperation as being at its peak, praising Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Arab Coalition.

“Saudi Arabia has always provided full support—military, financial, and moral. As the region’s strongest power, they have supported Yemen not just with resources, but also with strategic expertise and by fighting alongside us, even sacrificing their lives for our cause,” Al-Daeri told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said Houthi militias have taken advantage of the ceasefire and the Saudi-led initiative, which later became a UN effort, to conduct hostile activities and assert their presence.

He referred to the Houthis’ actions as creating a “massive prison” for millions of Yemenis who do not want to live in their controlled areas.

Al-Daeri, described the situation in the region as dangerous, pointing to recent events in Gaza and Lebanon as signs of increasing tensions. He warned of the risk of an unprecedented regional war due to the rising violence and conflicts.

“What is happening is very alarming, especially with the recent events, including terrorist militias in Yemen, the unacceptable violence in Gaza over the past year, and the situation in southern Lebanon. This all signals the risk of an unusual war,” said al-Daeri.

Regarding potential outcomes, al-Daeri noted that Yemeni forces are ready for both war and peace. He acknowledged significant efforts to achieve peace but warned that renewed conflict could occur at any moment. He also pointed out ongoing provocations from Houthis, which continue to lead to casualties.

"We are ready for all options and have comprehensive strategic plans for deploying our forces. The past two years have seen a ceasefire, and the Arab Coalition is making significant efforts to achieve peace rather than resorting to war. However, this does not mean that conflict won’t resume; it could restart at any time,” explained al-Daeri.

“Despite the ceasefire and the presence of our forces, the legitimate troops have not fired back, yet the militias provoke us daily, resulting in casualties,” he added.

“Patience is a key quality of the legitimate authority in Yemen, led by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and his colleagues in the Presidential Leadership Council. This patience reflects our readiness for the moment of truth, whether for peace or war—we are prepared,” asserted al-Daeri.