LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) - The Kuwait Investment Authorityhas more than doubled its investment in Britain over the past 10years to more than $24 billion, Bader Mohammed al-Saad, managingdirector of the KIA said on Friday.
Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund, which manages state assetsin the world's fourth-biggest oil exporter, is the oldestsovereign fund tracked by the SWF Institute with an estimated$342 billion in assets, one of the world's largest.
"The KIO now manages more than $120 bln globally comparedwith only $27 bln 10 years ago," Saad said.
"The KIA has invested more than $24 billion in the UK acrossall asset classes, sectors and industries. 10 years ago it was$9 billion," he said at an investor lunch in London on Friday.The lunch marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of theKuwait Investment Office, the fund's main investment arm.
"In the world of trade and industry, the close co-operationbetween the KIA and the United Kingdom is a force for good whichI believe will continue and grow in the years to come," headded.
The KIO has around $9.24 bln invested in equities accordingto Thomson Reuters data, with stakes in companies including BP, Vodafone and HSBC.
BP (BP.)
HSBC Holdings (HSBA)
Vodafone (VOD)