British companies will play a major role in ensuring a successful
2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and are expected
to be involved in many aspects of the tournament
from building new stadiums to cutting the grass
and providing pitch-side security guards.
The Department for International Trade has already helped British
companies to secure £940m in Qatar World Cup-related exports and
aims for at least a further £500m before the
competition kicks-off in 2022.
The UK’s Trade Policy Minister is in Qatar
today (2 December) for the second meeting of the Joint
Ministerial Economic Commercial and Technical Committee
(JETCO).
Talks will explore partnership opportunities for British business
at the 2022 World Cup as well as celebrating the continued rise
of trade between the two countries, which totalled £3.39bn in
2017, an increase of 70% over the last five years.
Minister for International Trade , said:
“With our football teams enjoying success this summer and
fantastic support coming from all four nations, it’s great to see
British business winning contracts and making these fantastic
events the spectacle they are.
Our world class construction companies have some of the best
safety records in the world and they will play an important role
in delivering a safe and successful World Cup.
If our nations have as much success in Qatar 2022
as UK businesses are having supporting it, we are in for another
great tournament.”
In July, the Emir of Qatar visited London to meet with Prime
Minister . They discussed how the UK
could continue to support Qatar to deliver a safe and successful
World Cup in 2022, and the Prime Minister highlighted
the expertise of British companies in delivering major sporting
events.
So far, the UK has stepped up, capitalising on its expertise
in project management, design, architecture and
supply chains to secure world cup contracts.
UK business has a long track record of delivering the world’s
biggest sporting events. The Department for International
Trade helped UK companies win export business worth around
£150m supporting Brazil to deliver the 2014 FIFA World Cup and
2016 Olympic Summer Games.
At Brazil’s 2014 World Cup, the seats in which fans cheered on
their teams were provided by UK firm Blue Cube.
At the Rio Games, British company ES Global provided the
decks on which triathletes changed disciplines (from
swimming to cycling, and cycling to running), whilst PKL
provided temporary kitchens to feed the athletes, staff and
fans.
More recently at this Summer’s FIFA World Cup in
Russia, Staffordshire firm Allet Lawnmowers won a contract
to provide £1 million worth of mowers for the Fisht Olympic
Stadium in Sochi during the competition.
DIT is now focused on helping other
British companies to win contracts at the 2019 Pan American
and Para-Pan Games, the Rugby World Cup 2019 and Tokyo 2020
Olympics and Paralympics, as well as at Qatar 2022
and a host of other major events.
UK-Qatar cooperation is not just about the 2022 World Cup
but the beginning of a number of opportunities for the UK to
support Qatar’s National Vision2030, its ambitious
multi-billion dollar national reform plan. The World Cup
will help build on the wider bilateral relationship between the
UK and Qatar as well as helping to strengthen the country’s
infrastructure and operations.
