Forum holds its monthly meeting
KUWAIT CITY - The British Business Forum (BBF) held its monthly meeting at the British Embassy Atrium in Kuwait Wednesday.
Guest speakers of the evening were Ian Williams, who is a Civil Engineer and Jamie Holmes, a Coastal Engineer. Both men are working on the Sabah Al-Ahmad Sea City.
Addressing the BBF members and their guests Williams and Holmes spoke in general about the engineering and environmental challenges and how they have managed to create a brand new eco system.
The Sabah Al-Ahmad Sea City is a massive 6,500 ha development project located approximately 100 km south of Kuwait City, eventually to provide a city for up to 100,000 people.
"This is a marine city and does not involve going offshore and reclaiming land from the sea, thus impacting on the marine environment and coastal equilibrium, but by bringing water inland and transforming environmentally impoverished land into a thriving eco system," said Williams.
The worldwide interest is being generated and the Sea City is currently being featured in an international publication on threats to the gulf, as an example how to develop sensitively, he added.
In addition, its eco credentials have generated sufficient interest for the Discovery Channel to commission two, one-hour documentaries on the project, he added.
Williams has over 18 years of Middle East experience. Prior to joining La'ala Al-Kuwait as project director, he has worked for 11 years with Buro Happold Consulting including a period as Middle East Director.
Williams has also spent most of the last 20 years in Project Management and has managed projects including the Saudi National Museum, BBC White City and Wembley regeneration.
Holmes has been in Kuwait for the last two years. Born in Scotland and now settled in Bath, Jamie has a degree in oceanography from Southampton University in addition to four years in the Royal Navy, including a deployment during the Second Gulf conflict.
The proceedings of the meeting were conducted by Chris Simpson, Chairman of the BBF.
He informed the guests the BBF will hold the Excellence Awards for 2009 and dinner, Friday, Jan 29, 2010 at the British Embassy.
He added the number of tickets for the event is strictly limited. However, priority will be given to members and award nominees.
He disclosed the awards will be presented by Charge d'Affaires at the British Embassy, Tim Stew MBE.
The British Business Forum (BBF) is a non-profit making association of British business people in Kuwait which aims to foster British interests and win more business for the United Kingdom.
Working closely with the British Embassy, the forum provides an opportunity for the British business community to meet on a regular basis, supports the creation of business networks, facilitates discussions with business people and VIPs visiting Kuwait and liaises with overseas trade agencies in the United Kingdom.
© Arab Times 2010
