UAE-AFRICA TIES FLOURISH
dubai — Almost all African nations will participate in Expo 2020 Dubai as bilateral relations between the UAE and African countries are growing economically, senior UAE officials said at the launch of Global Business Forum on Africa 2017 in Dubai on Wednesday.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the event, in the presence of over 1,000 top-level government and corporate decisionmakers, including African heads of state, ministers and dignitaries, and the UAE government and business elite.
“As director-general of Expo 2020, I have no doubt to say that the Expo will offer an opportunity to take our relationships [with Africa] to new heights. Our Expo visitors are expected to be pri- marily international coming from all over the world — including Africa. Almost all African nations have confirmed their participation and we are working closely with them to curate and programme exhibitions that are meaningful to contribute at all levels,” Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for Inter- national Cooperation and Director-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said at the event.
dubai — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received Rwanda President Paul Kagame and his accompanying delegation in Dubai on Wednesday.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, attended the meeting. Sheikh Mohammed and Kagame reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in all avenues, especially in the investment, trade, economic and infrastructure fields.
Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE pays attention to enhancing ties with African countries and supports them to build their infrastructure and establish joint investment projects, especially in the agriculture, energy, infrastructure and tourism sectors.
The Rwandan President expressed his country’s desire to benefit from the UAE’s successful experience in all sectors, especially the financial, technical and infrastructure domains.
Sheikh Mohammed also received Uganda President Yoweri Museveni. They attended the signing of an agreement on encouraging mutual investment. Obaid bin Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and Evelyn Anite, State Minister of Finance for Investment and Privatisation in Uganda, signed the agreement. — Wam