'File 10/8 Overseas trade enquiries' [‎173r] (346/495)

9.
® at
(1)
India (including re Exports)
£32,069
(2)
Iraq do, do.
4,280
(3)
Persian Coast.
2,086
(4)
.Lrab Coast
402
(5)
Countries not specified.
186
Total
£ 39,025
As elreody mentioned it is vary difficult to find out exactly
what proportion of amounts ^1 j end (2) is shared a^ong the principal,
competing countries since a great part of the piece goods trade
comes through. India or Iraq, end is shown as "of Indian origin " in
the local Customs figures. But generally speaicing British piece
goods come via Iraq., and Japanese, Italian etc, via India.
Considering the whole aspect of the trade and the low nominal
4P,o ad valorem ^ustom duty charged on goods landing at Kuwait, there
would appear to be a far more promising field for an increased British
trade in Kuwait than at present is the case but British firms will
have to come down in their prices so as to compete with the artificial
silks, sheetings and other cotton fabrics imported from Italy,
America, Qiina, Russia and Japan. It should be realized that most
of the people of Kuwait ere not far removed from the Bedouin nomad.,
ans as such are not educated enough yet to r ealize the value of, and
the saving on c good article. This is on3 of the chief and foremost
reasons why foreign piece goods find a better market end ere more
appreciated thui British goods. Foreign manufacturers appear also
to study local requirements "lore then British firms do, for instance
Japan has realized that the white cotton vest or singlet with circular
collar is the garment wanted by divers and sailors of the G-ulf in
summer. She has accordingly gone for their market and captured it.
Similarly Italy is trying to capture the loc?J U quilt" trade b^ flood
ing the market with cheap but very good tartan rugs which are sold at
£0.12.0 and £0,14.8 end which she hopes will oust the quilt. She
probably will succeed, for the article is very popular, British
firms might with advantage try pushing their trade by means of /rabic
and Persian spearing travelling agents, whom one very rarely sees in
this part of the world,
Zs regards trading methods common to the market, direct
importation from the manufacturers in foreign countries is not often