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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to (a) Kazakhstan, (b) Kyrgyzstan, (c) Lebanon and (d) Lesotho; and what future trade delegations are planned. [76541] Mr. Wilson: (a-b) The last occasion on which a Government Minister led a trade delegation to Kazakhstan and/or Kyrgyzstan was when Viscount Goschen, then Minister for Aviation and Shipping led a delegation to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan between 9-16 September 1995. There are no firm plans for future trade delegations led by a Minister to visit either country. The Department of Trade and Industry plans to support 4 trade missions to Kazakhstan in 1999-2000, two of which will visit Kyrgyzstan. They are as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Date Trade missions April 1999 Agricultural sector working group mission to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan October 1999 Infrastructure and Energy projects Directorate oil and gas trade mission to Kazakhstan October 1999 British Water Trade mission to Kazakhstan March 2000 British Consultants Trade mission to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Additionally the Chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board will be visiting Central Asia in September with a trade mission. He is expected to include Kyrgyzstan in the visit. (c) Mr. Alan Meale, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, led a mission of British Water companies to Lebanon in December 1998.My Department plans to support five trade missions to Lebanon in the financial year 1999-2000: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Date Trade missions 11-24 April 1999 Business Link Gloucester 18-22 May 1999 Middle East Association 3-15 October 1999 Business Link Milton Keynes 16-24 November 1999 Nottingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry January 2000 Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry _________________________________________________________________________________________________. (d) There have been no Minister-led trade delegations to Lesotho and there are no plans for one in the future.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

76541; 328 c108W

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Ministers UK delegations Visits abroad Lebanon Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Trade promotion Lesotho