(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The State of Kuwait is the third largest trading partner of the United Kingdom in the Gulf region, where the volume of trade exchange between the two countries topped 3.59 billion U.S. dollars, the Chairman of Gatehouse Bank Fahd Boodai said.
Boddai, a member of the economic delegation accompanying His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in his state visit to the United Kingdom, said in a statement, late on Monday, there are about 50 British companies operating in Kuwait, mostly in construction, oil, defense, real estate, logistics and banking sectors. "We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to play a part in this monumental visit, and under the leadership and guidance of His Highness, we will undoubtedly see further strengthening and reinforcement of the reciprocal economic relationship between Kuwait and the UK," he commented.
"In particular, I am delighted to see the extent to which the UK Government is working to support Islamic finance and bridge the gap between the West and the Islamic world, and Gatehouse Bank remains committed in its own capacity as we endeavour to support and further strengthen the historic bilateral relations that bind the State of Kuwait with the UK", he added.
He also spoke about Gatehouse Bank which was founded in 2008 and established a global investment portfolio in excess of 1.25 billion pounds (USD 2 billion) spread across Real Estate assets, capital investment and term deposits.
Supported by its Kuwaiti shareholders and working in close partnership with GSH, its sister company in Kuwait, the bank specialises in the long-term management and preservation of wealth for its high net worth and institutional investor clients.
"With its client focus in the GCC and covering markets in the UK as well as Asia via Malaysia, the bank operates as a natural bridge between the world's key financial markets," said Boddai.
HH the Amir arrived, late on Monday, for a state visit at the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
As part of the state visit's official program, Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will host His Highness and the Kuwaiti delegation in an official dinner in honor of His Highness in Windsor Castle tonight. The delegation accompanying His Highness includes a number of ministers, senior officials, political and economic figures.
