Visible exports from the UK to GCC last year were worth £8.9 billion ($16.5 billion) but there remain huge opportunities to increase business further, according to UK Trade & Investment deputy chief executive, Susan Haird.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference for regional UK government commercial officers at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa on Wednesday, she said that as the GCC economies continued to diversify and develop infrastructure projects the UK was well placed to exploit these opportunities.

"UK companies are in a position to benefit, particularly in Bahrain the fields of engineering environmental projects and construction," she said.

"The UK is also in a very strong position in the service sector with four big UK law firms operating in the kingdom.

"The UK is also extremely strong in the financial services industry here," she said.

"It has the largest presence of any foreign country."

Consumer goods, healthcare, retailing, oil and gas and renewables were also businesses in which UK companies were contributing to the Bahrain economy.

More than 30 UK government commercial officers took part in the conference which aimed to develop future strategies to build business links between the UK and the GCC.

"We came together from across the region to update each other on priorities, look at performance and learn from our successes," she said.

"We have officers in over 100 countries around the world so it is important to have these regional get-togethers to keep in touch and develop joint marketing ventures for UK companies.

"It is our role to make the UK the international business partner of choice," she added. - TradeArabia News Service