DP World Chairman Says £1bn UK Investment Proceeded Despite Minister's "Discrediting" Comments

DP World, the global ports and logistics giant handling approximately 10% of global trade, confirmed it moved forward with a £1 billion investment in its London Gateway port project despite being publicly criticised by a former UK cabinet minister.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of DP World and parent company of P&O Ferries, revealed that harsh remarks from former UK Transport Secretary Louise Haigh nearly jeopardised the expansion plans at London Gateway, one of the UK’s most strategically important deepwater ports.

The controversy dates back to 2022 when P&O Ferries came under intense scrutiny for abruptly firing over 700 UK-based seafarers and replacing them with overseas labour, a move that sparked widespread political backlash.

In October of last year, as DP World prepared to announce its major UK investment at a government-led summit, Haigh labelled P&O a "rogue operator," threatening to derail the project.

As a result, DP World temporarily withdrew its investment announcement, only resuming talks after a direct intervention by the UK Prime Minister, who offered personal reassurances to Bin Sulayem that the views expressed by the minister were not reflective of the government as a whole.

Speaking about the incident, Bin Sulayem said:

"There was a misunderstanding. Someone, unfortunately, said something that was not what we expected. We were going to invest in infrastructure—a huge investment—and then the person in charge basically discredited us. But it's water under the bridge now."

The investment, which will ultimately transform London Gateway into the UK's largest port within four years, underscores DP World’s long-term commitment to UK infrastructure despite political turbulence.

P&O Defense: “No State Support During Pandemic”

Bin Sulayem also defended P&O's past actions, emphasizing the financial challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that without receiving government aid, difficult cost-cutting decisions were necessary to preserve the business.

Since the incident, Louise Haigh has resigned, following unrelated legal issues involving a fraud conviction.

With operations in over 70 countries, DP World remains a critical player in global logistics and trade infrastructure. The London Gateway expansion is expected to bring thousands of jobs, enhance UK trade capacity, and solidify Britain’s role as a global shipping hub post-Brexit.
Source: Sky News