The QS announced this week that it had merged with DG Jones, a Cyprus-based QS and project manager. The firm has a offices around the world, including an active operation in Kuwait and a dormant base in Baghdad.
These two offices were suspended after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. The Kuwaiti office reopened last year and the firm said it would restart its Iraqi business if and when Iraq rejoined the international community.
Francis Ives, chairman of Cyril Sweett, said: "DG Jones has got a good track record in Baghdad, and there is one staff member who's still there. We are well placed for any future developments there."
Ives said an invasion would lead to a throughout the Middle East. "There are opportunities in Dubai. Not to oversimplify it, but there will be a serious amount of rest and recuperation facilities needed for the American and British forces there."
The DG Jones merger expands Cyril Sweett's overseas operations, from 8% of the business to about 25%. In the Middle East, DG Jones has offices in Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. The company has 30 offices in total including operations in the USA, Africa, the Far East and Australia.
Ives said the two firms have been in talks for about a year, and that the deal is part of Cyril Sweett's business plan to expand overseas. The merger creates a £32m-turnover business with 650 staff.
Ives said the two hoped to share experience and clients. He added: "[DG Jones] has clients in Japan that I would die for in the UK, such as Goldman Sachs and Coca-Cola.
"DG Jones is also keen to access our legal, PFI and whole-life costing services. Also, it's a great opportunity for our staff to travel, and the only way we are going to get it together is by exchanging staff."
Ives said DG Jones was gearing up for growth in the Far East. He said: "They believe they have turned the corner in the Far East and Asia Pacific. It was tough out there for a while."
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