WIREDGOV

Helping British business to succeed and linking them up to fast-growing economies is a priority for this Government. That’s why I’ve made a determined effort to re-energise our ties with Gulf countries, including making three visits in as many years to the United Arab Emirates which is a leading example of the potential and dynamism of the region. British businesses are now reaping the rewards of these efforts as we transform old friendships into dynamic new partnerships.

This is a great day for the British aerospace industry. As the Dubai airshow opens with 134 British companies promoting their business to 60,000 visitors, these major deals are testament to the world­-beating capabilities of our civil aerospace industry and proof of how Britain can succeed in the global race.

I visited the Airbus pavilion yesterday and discussed these deals with the Ruler of Dubai and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and I’m delighted that Airbus has had such a strong start to the show. The A380 programme is worth £15 billion to our economy and this order from Emirates is a further vote of confidence in the skills of the workforce at Filton, where the A380’s wings are designed, and Broughton where they are assembled. This new order will sustain 2,500 jobs across the UK and opens an opportunity for Rolls Royce to bid to supply the engines in a further multi-billion deal that would benefit Derby. The Etihad deal for 50 A350s with Rolls Royce engines is worth a further £3bn to the economy and will secure 4000 jobs over the next three years. Together these contracts demonstrate the confidence of world class airlines like Emirates and Etihad in the latest technology designed and manufactured in Britain and they will be a major boost for SMEs up and down the country involved in the supply chain.

Civil aerospace is one of Britain’s strongest industries. A vital sector in our economy employing 230,000 people and the Government is fully committed to doing all we can to support it. That’s why we have invested over £2 billion with industry in a new Aerospace Technology Institute, to ensure that we remain ahead of the competition, designing the technology for faster, quieter, greener aircraft.