Investment Promotion Activities (Hansard, 28 May 2004)

§ Tom Brake
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the investment promotion activities of United Kingdom officials in(a)Sudan and (b)Iraq. [175792]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
It is not UK Trade and Investment's role to promote investment in overseas countries. We are happy to support UK companies who have taken a commercial decision to invest overseas. As such, UK Trade and Investment offers general advice and information to UK companies wishing to trade with or invest in Sudan and Iraq.
A small commercial section operates from the British embassy in Khartoum, headed by the Deputy Head of Mission and supported by two local staff. The section works to identify opportunities for British goods and services in the Sudanese market and to provide sales leads to UK companies. The interest shown by UK companies in Sudan is low, due in part to the continuing uncertainty over the security situation in the country.
On Iraq, UK Trade and Investment has arranged a number of events in London and in the region, aimed at explaining the modalities of doing business in Iraq and bidding for reconstruction contracts. The commercial section of the British Office in Baghdad can provide information on request to UK companies.

§ Tom Brake
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what meetings between United Kingdom Government officials and United Kingdom companies in the last 12 months investment in(a)Sudan and (b)Zimbabwe was discussed; and what the (i) names of the officials concerned and (ii) nature of the discussions was in each case. [175831]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
UK Trade and Investment through its offices in the UK and overseas Posts in Khartoum and Harare provide general advice and information to companies wishing to establish or expand trade or investment links with Sudan and Zimbabwe. This is usually done on a responsive basis. We do not maintain details of all meetings at which such issues are discussed and to collate this information would incur disproportionate costs.