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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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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.