WAM Dubai, 2nd May 2012 (WAM) -- The UAE today serves as a promotion platform for foreign economies through hosting major international investment promotion conferences, Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said today.

These investment road shows, she added, provide a fitting platform for bringing investors from all corners of the world closer.

Sheikha Lubna made her remarks at a meeting with ministers and top officials from four countries participating at the Annual Investment Meeting 2012 (AIM) which opened at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center yesterday.

AIM draws about 4,000 delegates, including 30 ministers, from 45 countries.

Sheikha Lubna welcomed Zafer ?a?layan, Turkey's Minister of Economy, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Pakistan's Minister for Commerce, G?rald Tremblay, Montr?al's Mayor and Giancarlo Innocenzi Botti, Chairman of Invitalia, Italy's agency for investment promotion.

The minister also chaired Ministerial Networking Roundtable during she gave an overview of the UAE economy, saying foreign trade had surpassed one trillion Dirhams in 2011.

Sheikh underlined the UAE's sincere interest in building long-term economic and cooperation partnerships with other countries of the world to serve mutual benefits and deliver aspirations of people for fair and sustainable development.

AIM is the world's first Emerging Markets FDI-focused event to offer a perfect blend of trade fair and intellectual features aimed at enriching Institutional, corporate and individual investors attending with a comprehensive set of guidelines for their future investment decisions in high growth regions. Established as the new staple for foreign trade and FDI, AIM attracts a mix of high profile government officials, private asset owners and project promoters from all across the globe.

AIM targets fast transforming economies, emerging countries and industries with the most anticipated growth factor and will enhance their potential by providing a strategic platform that delivers ready-to-invest showcases and how-to-invest methodologies.

WAM/TF