|  | Lubna Al-Qasimi discusses bilateral ties with Swedish counterpartFeb 6, 2009 - 11:40 - WAM Stockholm, Feb. 6, 2009 (WAM) -- Foreign Trade Minister, Shaikha Lubna bint Khalid Al-Qasimi, met here Thursday evening with her Swedish counterpart, Ewa Bjorling. They discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to boost them in various areas, particularly in the areas of trade and investment.
UAE Ambassador to Sweden, Shaikha Najla Mohammed Al-Qasimi and Chairman of both the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Salah Salim bin Omair Al-Shamsi, were present at the meeting during which the two sides also discussed developments in the free trade agreement negotiations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU), the global financial crisis and its effect on international trade.
Shaikha Lubna thanked her host for the invitation to visit Sweden, which, she said, was a great opportunity to discuss various issues of mutual interest to the two sides and to discuss cooperation in joint investment projects, adding that the UAE boasts of advanced and friendly investment environment which made it the most open in the Middle East and the preferred business hub for international companies.
She said the UAE provides a fertile market for Swedish companies in various sectors to expand their business activities in the Middle East and Asia regions.
She reviewed with her host economic development in the UAE and the country's plans in the development of its infrastructure and its economic diversification strategy. She said the UAE's non-oil sector makes generous contribution to the country's GDP, accounting for more then 64% of the GDP in 2007.
Al-Shamsi, for his part, made a brief presentation about the UAE's efforts to face squarely the effect of the global financial crisis. He called for unified and concerted global efforts to counter the crisis, which, he said, no single country can undo it alone.
WAM/SA |
|
|  |
