Etihad Aviation Group, JOCIC ink deal
[There is] an important consensus reached by the leadership of China and the UAE to strengthen international industrial capacity cooperation between the two countries Luo Hua, Chairman of Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company
abu dhabi — A strategic partnership and mutual promotion mechanism was established as Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) CEO Tony Douglas and Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company (JOCIC) chairman Luo Hua inked a memorandum of understanding during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit to the UAE.
The parties plan to cooperate on a wide range of areas in order to better support the development of the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Park (China-UAE Industrial Park) in Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port, including air logistics, procurement, mutual promotion on respective premises and digital channels.
The MoU signifies that EAG will provide the companies investing in the China-UAE Industrial Park with preferred air transportation and cargo rates on the routes and services between China and other cities on Etihad Airways entire network. JOCIC and the companies of the China-UAE Industrial Park also designate Etihad Airways as their preferred airline.
Under the agreement, EAG and JOCIC, the management company of the China-UAE Industrial Park, will jointly explore marketing opportunities through appropriate promotional channels in China and the UAE to promote the China-UAE Industrial Park, Abu Dhabi’s friendly investment environment for Chinese companies as well as Abu Dhabi’s unique geographic advantages and Etihad Airways’ convenient network, which supports China’s Belt and Road Initiative. In addition, EAG will enjoy special rates on the products produced and manufactured by Chinese companies at the China-UAE Industrial Park.
Douglas said: “China is a strategically-important market for Etihad. We feel extremely honoured to forge such a strategic partnership with JOCIC so as to serve the development of the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Park, and better foster the Chinese companies within the Industrial Park.”
Luo said: “The China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Park is a major project under the Belt and Road Initiative. It represents an important consensus reached by the leadership of China and the UAE to strengthen international industrial capacity cooperation between the two countries.”
“The partnership will demonstrate the long-standing commitment of Etihad, the national carrier of the UAE, to acting as a bridge for economic and cultural exchanges between the UAE and China.”