Welcome back from what I hope has been a relaxing and enjoyable summer for you all. My staff and I have returned fully refreshed and ready to tackle what I can confidently predict is going to be the busiest time for bilateral business between the UK and Kuwait in our recent history. This will build and expand on the significant progress made over the last eighteen months as we look to meet our self imposed target of doubling UK-Kuwait trade by the end of 2015.

Our planning already takes us to the end of this year and beyond as we look both to support British business already in Kuwait and to encourage more UK companies to enter the local market. The strong relationship we enjoy with the BBF will be an important part of that strategy and I will shortly be discussing with the Board how we can expand still further our joint activity.

One strand will be the London Olympics - now less than a year away. Staging the Games is a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase the UK throughout the world and to showcase a legacy of globally competitive and innovative businesses. The Olympics will be a defining moment for the UK and the Government – and a successful and sustainable economic legacy will be a tangible return on significant public investment in the Games. Delivery of these legacy objectives will depend on coordinated, effective marketing of the UK. This will include leveraging our status as Olympic hosts domestically and internationally to deliver a substantial boost to the UK economy.

The BBF, working with the Embassy, has the opportunity to help us deliver this legacy by promoting UK expertise internationally; identifying the opportunities for UK companies to export their goods and services to other major events; and attracting high-value foreign direct investment using the unique selling point of our host status to underpin the opportunity to potential investors.

From the Royal Wedding to the Diamond Jubilee to the Olympics and Paralympics, the UK has entered a period that will see unprecedented levels of international attention on our country. It is for us to take advantage of the opportunities that this presents. With this in mind, on September 21 Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to a business audience in New York to announce the government’s programme of activity to deliver the Olympic legacy and introduce the new GREAT campaign, aimed at promoting the UK overseas. As he said then the 2012 Games are about three things: great sport, great legacy and Great Britain.

Of course, it is always great to be British. And the next year is going to be something very special in our country’s history. We are all looking forward to being part of those celebrations here in Kuwait.