-
to begin three-day visit
to Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan today (July 25)
- Foreign Secretary will emphasise the UK’s growing partnership
with the region – with Gulf countries and Jordan set to benefit
from the UK’s new visa travel scheme
- He will also announce funding to support women and girls and
to help the most vulnerable refugees in Jordan.
The Foreign Secretary will travel to the Middle East today
(Tuesday 25 July) on a three-day tour to emphasise the UK’s
growing, mutually-beneficial partnerships with the region.
The visit, which will include Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, comes
after the Government recently announced that citizens from Gulf
countries and Jordan will benefit from the UK’s new Electronic
Travel Authorisation visa scheme, which will make travel to the
UK cheaper and easier for visitors.
All three countries are also important energy, defence and
security partners for the UK, and trade and investment with the
Gulf is vital to support the Prime Minister’s priorities to grow
the economy. UK trade with Qatar and Kuwait was worth £18.1bn
billion last year alone.
In Jordan, the Foreign Secretary will announce up to £1.5m to
support initiatives for women and girls. The funding will go
towards civil society organisations.
He will also meet with representatives from UNHCR (the UN’s
refugee agency) and the World Food Programme where he will
announce funding of £30 million over three years to provide cash
assistance and support to the poorest refugees. This will cover
their basic food and living needs – reaching an estimated 70,000
refugees per year in the camps and host communities.
Foreign Secretary said:
“I am delighted to be back in the Middle East. The UK’s mutually
beneficial relationships with the Gulf and Jordan continue to
thrive. We have a bright future together.
“From working together on shared goals like developing stronger
trade ties and security, I am proud of how we are collaborating
for the benefit of us all.
“The UK also remains committed to supporting refugees and host
communities, collaborating with our partners to help the most
vulnerable in the region.”
In Qatar today, the Foreign Secretary will meet with the Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al
Thani.
He will then travel to Kuwait to meet His Highness the Crown
Prince, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and explore
opportunities to strengthen cooperation.
In Jordan on Thursday, he will meet with Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister Safadi.
