Lawrie Walker: Saudi Arabia Has Good Stories to Tell

Former British Consul

I spent most of my working life in the British diplomatic service in the Arab world. I have served in Baghdad, Kuwait, Bahrain , in Libya , Lebanon and Saudi Arabia where I was Consul General, So I know this region very well , I spent around 22 years in the Arab world it is a part of world that I have always found extremely challenging, exciting and very stimulating, so it is a very great pleasure to come back to a country like Saudi Arabia which is going through a process of change and economic restructuring advancement . I was here last year, but I have been back many times in the last 6 or 7 years ,since I left the British consulate in Jeddah -as a Consul General - and I see the development of Saudi Arabian economy is developing very rapidly. I know that our trade relations with Saudi Arabia in the last 2 or 3 years have blossomed, our exports to Saudi Arabia have  increased significantly, so the exports of Saudi Arabia to the united kingdom have increased significantly, and the investment by British come in Saudi Arabia have also blossomed in the last 2 or 3 years.

Most recently with the involvement of “ Shell ” as part of a joint venture in the development of gas resources in the empty quarter, so its good news for the united kingdom, its god news for Saudi Arabia and for investment in  this region, I welcome that very much. I think one of the problem that Saudi Arabia faces is that, it has a lot of very good stories to tell. there are a lot of very good opportunities in this country and there are area where a British or any foreign company works closely together with Saudi company, there can be a very profitable business set up for the benefit of both parties.

Unfortunately and I regret that very much and I know the kingdom well, so I can understand the problems but unfortunately, the kingdom does not have the very strong or positive image which it deserves and I think it needs to tell the story it to the attention of … well, the fact that the government is restructuring the economic environment here, The fact that is easier for foreign investors to operate in Saudi Arabia, the fact that the government budget is strong the government has strong resources, it is determined to encourage the development of new industries in Saudi Arabia, so there are lost of very good things and positive things to say about the kingdom but unfortunately I do not think the kingdom necessarily, gets that massage across, sufficiently with western or potential western investors or any outside investor.

I think people in the west have the wrong perception about the very many positive aspects of Saudi culture and the economic progress been made in this country, and this I think, is partly because Saudi Arabia is not telling a very good story as effects, though it might do, though it is improving that direction, but certainly in the united kingdom there is no… I'm certainly not aware of any suggestions that British companies are saying that Saudi Arabia is not a good place in which to invest, so Arab companies -and this is particularly noticeable through “SHELL“ for example- have just committed themselves to developing Gas resources in Saudi Arabia in a giant venture with Saudi Aramco with a French company called “ TOTALL” I mean they have researched the market carefully, they know what the challenges are they prepare to confront them, As they want to do some partnership with Saudi companies .

No, they are not afraid and they have made, I would guess. A very sensible judgment based on very careful research and they see it in their interest to continue on that project and that's a good news