Concluding remarks

Closing the Summit, Mr Abdeslam El Idrissi, ABCC Deputy CEO, paid a warm tribute to all the speakers, sponsors and delegates, stating that ABES 2023 had enabled new friendships to be formed, new contacts made and provided a platform where valuable insights were shared. He stated that plans were already well under way for ABES 2024 which would be held in November 2024 at the same venue. He stated that this promises to be an even bigger event than ABES23 and urged people to register early, also to consider the various sponsorship options and to join the Chamber’s membership. The MOU signed between the ABCC and the Libyan Business Council, witnessed by delegates, signalled growing opportunities for UK-Libya trade, Mr El-Idrissi said.

On behalf of the UK government, the final formal speech came from Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE, Minister for Investment, DBT. He paid tribute to the ABCC for all its work in the promotion of bilateral trade in a track record of almost 50 years. Lord Johnson thanked the ABCC’s CEO and chairman and also paid tribute to the Arab ambassadors in London for supporting the event which had succeeded in highlighting opportunities available through closer

UK-Arab cooperation. ABES23 showed the significant role that the ABCC in building a stronger Arab-British relationship. The minister outlined the ambitions of the UK to become a science and technology superpower and invited investors from the Arab states.