Shapps talks trade, innovation and commitment to jobs in Dubai

Transport secretary Grant Shapps is setting out a commitment to trade, British investment and creating new jobs at a headline speech in Dubai.

He will speak at the UK’s Travel Summit at Expo today, outlining the government’s vision of safe and sustainable travel founded on international collaboration and innovation, including green transport alternatives and autonomous vehicles.

The transport secretary will work on international relationships at the Expo, sharing best practice across the UAE and UK. The aim is to strengthen both countries’ positions as leaders in high-tech transport and create thousands of jobs.

As one of the UK’s largest trading partners – bringing in almost £18 billion to the UK economy every year – the transport secretary will also be holding a number of meetings in the next few days aimed at further boosting trade between the UK and Dubai, generating investment and creating green jobs domestically.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “We’re leading the charge on the transport revolution, investing billions of pounds of funding to both transform and decarbonise all aspects of travel, from the cars we drive to the planes and ships we travel on.

“Working together with the UAE, a renowned high-tech futuristic transport hub, will allow us to drive these changes forward while boosting investment and creating jobs across the UK.”

This year’s Expo will focus on sustainability, mobility and opportunity. As part of this, the transport secretary will be visiting a range of renewable and clean technology sites.

Already leading the charge on drones, EVs and autonomous vehicles, the UK is looking to expand and strengthen knowledge and expertise in areas such as hydrogen and sustainable fuels – building upon the £300 million of funding announced earlier this year to drive forward research into innovative transport projects.

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