UAE emerges as trade and financial hub, says Robb
abu dhabi — UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received at his office in Abu Dhabi on Monday the visiting Australian Minister of Trade and Investment, Andrew Robb.
Shaikh Abdullah and Robb discussed the co-operation and friendly relations between their two countries and ways of enhancing efforts to develop economic and trade ties as well as encouraging investment.
During the meeting, the two sides announced the implementation of the agreement signed on July 31, 2012, by Shaikh Abdullah and the former Australian minister of foreign affairs on collaboration in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy
Welcoming the Australian minister, Shaikh Abdullah noted the importance of the exchange of visits between officials of the two friendly countries, within the framework of developing bilateral co-operation so as to permit both to become familiar with each other’s development programmes and progress.
Shaikh Abdullah also stressed the desire of the UAE to develop co-operation with Australia and to support anything that would encourage bilateral investment and the diversification of areas of collaboration, so as to serve the common interests of both countries.
He added that the bringing into effect of the agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy would offer more opportunities for collaboration between both the governments and the private sectors of the two countries in this field.
This, he said, would reflect the strong bilateral ties and was also in line with the UAE’s policy of developing its peaceful nuclear energy programme in collaboration with other countries that share the same commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The UAE, Shaikh Abdullah said, looks forward to this collaboration, which, he said, would further foster the excellent co-operation that is already evident in a variety of fields and in the volume of bilateral trade and investment.
During the meeting, the Australian minister expressed his satisfaction with the important economic, trade and social partnership between his country and the UAE, saying that he looked forward to its further development so that it could make full use of what he described as the enormous resources and capabilities of both countries.
The visiting minister also commented on the excellent reputation and status of the UAE at a global level, adding that Australia pays special attention to the opportunities for the further development of bilateral relations.
Robb also noted that the environment for foreign investment provided by the UAE had helped to attract business and international investment projects to the Emirates, leading to its emergence as an important trade and financial centre and as a suitable base for global companies that could use the UAE as a centre for their activities throughout the region. Robb also expressed his hope that the UAE would enjoy more success and progress in various fields.