The British Business Forum of Kuwait currently has a range of Sector Groups, open to anyone who has an interest in the respective business sectors. Each Sector Group has a convener who is a point of contact for the group and who arranges periodic meetings throughout the year, normally at least once a quarter.

The sector groups are usually the first point of contact for British firms looking for assistance in entering, or doing business in Kuwait, and provide a useful forum for exchanging ideas for members with similar interests. The Sector Groups are seen as a key function of the BBF.
If you are interested in joining any of the Sector Groups, or starting a new Group, please contact either the Sector Group Coordinator Donald Teale at donald.teale@bbfkuwait.com, or the respective Sector Group Convener.


The Aviation, Travel & Hospitality group is the most active sector group within the BBF with regular quarterly meetings.
The ethos of the group is to mix business with pleasure in a nice ambiance, and this has been achieved by meeting in some of the most prestigious hospitality establishments in Kuwait.
The format typically includes a presentation from a member of the industry followed by an informal networking session over dinner.
Previous presentations have been delivered by airlines, hotels, and travel companies, with even an concert performed exclusively for the group by an internationally renowned violinist, Michal Cwizewicz.

If you are interested in joining this group or wish to attend the next meeting, please contact the Sector Group convener Hanna Jerczynska at hanna.jerczynska@bbfkuwait.com


The Banking and Finance Sector Group is open to any members of the Financial Industry Sector including Banking, Insurance, Investment Companies, and related services.
The group is a forum for exchanging ideas and latest industry and market information, assisting both companies entering the Kuwait market, and Kuwait companies wishing to do business in the UK. The Financial Industry Sector in Kuwait is one of the largest in the region and a major contributor the Kuwait GDP after the Oil and Gas Industry.
If you are interested in joining this group or wish to attend the next meeting, please contact the Sector Group convener Geof Webster at gawebster@me.com


The Construction and Consultant Sector Group is one of the original groups within the BBF, lead by Jeff de Lange, who recently hosted the visit by HRH Prince Andrew on his trade mission to Kuwait. Construction is a key pillar of the Kuwait Five Year Development Plan generating large scale opportunities for British Industry. British Companies are already successfully involved in infrastructure related projects such as the new Kuwait Metro System and numerous Road Construction projects such as the new Kuwait Metro System, the new Terminal at Kuwait Airport, and the numerous other major infrastructure projects included in the Kuwaiti Five Year Development Plan.
The Sector Group meets roughly once a quarter and meetings are usually arranged around site visits to innovative and interesting construction sites in and around Kuwait. Meetings last year included a visit to the Al Hamra Tower in Sharq, the tallest building being constructed in Kuwait, and Jeff and the group seem to have a desire to be the first members of the public to drive across the Sheraton Roundabout fly over, showing an admirable confidence in their profession.
This group covers a range of sectors, including construction, design, power, and professional consultancy services and is a focus for networking amongst BBF member and other interested parties, as well as providing a support for visiting British trade delegations.
If you are interested in joining this group or wish to attend the next meeting, please contact the Sector Group convener Jeff de Lange at jdelange@gckuwait.com


The Defence sector in Kuwait is one of the cornerstones of Kuwait UK relations, achieving a high profile visit last year of the Prime Minister David Cameron leading a trade delegation, instigating the first ever Kuwaiti Prime Ministerial press conference.
Since 2003 Britain has approved 444 defence related export licences for Kuwait, worth a total of £102.3m, this cascades into opportunities for UK defence related service companies to assist in training and development of Kuwaiti companies.
This Group is open to any member interested, either directly or indirectly, in the Defence or Security industry within Kuwait. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact the Sector Group coordinator Donald Teale at donald.teale@bbfkuwait.com


Building on the successful “Best of British Fashion” show, held at the embassy last summery, the BBF have started a new Sector Group dedicated to those involved or interested in fashion. Kuwait has an unusually high number of informed consumers in this area with retail being one of the most popular local pastimes.
If you are interested in joining this group or wish to attend the next meeting, please contact either of the Sector Group conveners Linda Asfour or Hanna Jerczynska at linda.asfour@bbfkuwait.com or hanna.jerczynska@bbfkuwait.com


The Information Technology sector is open to anyone with an interest in the subject and industry, whether it be key users such as company CIO’s or service providers. Kuwait and the Middle East is now becoming the focus of attention of many large IT organisations looking for new and developing markets. Last year Kuwait and the UK moved closer together signing a Memorandum of Understanding on collaborative actions to fight Cybercrime in order to combat terrorism.
This sector group meets on an informal basis, typically once a quarter to discuss innovations in the industry and development in the local market.
If you are interested in joining this group or wish to attend the next meeting, please contact the Sector Group convener Ian Mills at ian.mills@bbfkuwait.com


Healthcare is one of the key pillars of the Kuwait National Development Plan, looking at both meeting the needs of an increasing population and providing services to regional customers.
The UK has already been very successful in developing links between high profile UK hospitals and institutions and Kuwait companies to develop joint venture opportunities to bring high quality care services to where they are in demand.
This sector group has brought some of these success stories to the wider interest of the BBF membership, resulting in British Excellence Awards for two individuals from Great Ormond Street Hospital for their work in developing a palliative care centre for Kuwaiti children.
If you are interested in joining this group or wish to attend the next meeting, please contact the Sector Group convener, Dr. Linda Asfour, linda.asfour@bbfkuwait.com


It is probably no surprise that the Oil and Gas sector group is the largest sector group in the BBF, with many British Companies and Nationals providing a range of services to the industry. The members include representation from all the major UK and International companies working in Kuwait.
The Group meets typically quarterly at a variety of locations around Kuwait and is an informal networking opportunity for people in the business. In the last twelve months the Group has hosted several trade delegations from the UK and has lead the BBF’s interest in developing a forum for those interested in doing business in Iraq, including a round table workshop chaired by Emma Nicholson the Baroness of Winterborne (Chairperson of the IBBQ). Presentations have also been delivered by the Country leads for a range of International Oil and Petrochemical Companies.
If you are interested in joining this group or wish to attend the next meeting, please contact the Sector Group convener Brian Dawes, at brian.dawes@bbfkuwait.com


Training and Education is one of the most successful UK exports to the Middle East building on the prestige of high quality services available from UK Nationals. The group meets regularly in informal surroundings and discuss a wide range of industry related topics, including the long term training requirements of the country, the affects of Kuwaitisation on recruitment, and the evolution of mentoring.
The group intends to produce a series of articles for the BBF magazine Dispatches this year.
If you are interested in joining this group or wish to attend the next meeting, please contact the Sector Group convener Dr. Sean Toner, at tonersq8@hotmail.com