The DTI is backing two trade missions to the Middle East by The Chamber for Coventry and Warwickshire-after the success of the one last year which resulted in business totalling £1.5-million.

The visits are to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait in May and to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in September.

"We expect these trade missions to be very popular and places are limited,"

said the Chamber's mission manager, Alan Jones.

"Early applications are advised because places will be filled on a 'first come' basis."

Much of the business picked up last year was in the food processing and packaging industries, a sector in which Mr. Jones has considerable experience including exporting to the Middle East.

The GCC area (Gulf Co-operation Council) took almost £7-billion UK exports last year, up by a third on 1996.

Of this, Saudi Arabia purchases amounted to just over half, itself up 53 per cent, to make it the UK's eleventh largest export market.

Mr. Jones added:

"I believe our success last year indicates that there is still a great deal of business to be won in the area.

"There is scarcely a sector that is not doing well but there are particularly good prospects for food related products."

The DTI is subsidising delegates by £440, in addition to attractive travel packages negotiated by The Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise.

The Emirate mission will be from May 15 to 17, and the Saudi one from September 18 to 30.