UAE, Finland to boost economic ties

10/05/2015 02:04 AST

Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, has agreed with Finland’s Economy Minister, Jan Vapaavuori, to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the areas of scientific research and innovation.

During the meeting, held in the presence of the Finnish Ambassador to UAE, Ilkka-Pekka Simila, at a local hotel in Dubai, the two ministers stressed the importance of business sectors in both countries to upgrade the level of joint cooperation.

They also discussed ways to develop economic cooperation between the two countries, focusing on areas of knowledge-driven economy and innovation.

Al Mansouri noted, “Finland has an outstanding track record at the international level in the fields of advanced technology, innovation, research and development, making it an important partner for the UAE in its quest to achieve a transition to a sustainable knowledge-based economy as a strategic national option.”

He pointed out that the trend towards the adoption of innovation as the basis for economy was based upon the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which were translated by the Cabinet to make 2015 a year of innovation, adding that this declaration was followed by the intensification of national efforts in this area from the Ministry of Economy and various government agencies.

Al Mansouri referred to the visit of Finnish President Sauli Niinisto to the UAE last April, and his meeting with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, which confirmed the level of Finland’s interest in strengthening the bonds of cooperation with the UAE in various fields.

He also emphasised the positive results achieved by his official visit to Finland at the head of an economic and a government delegation comprising various stakeholders from the public and private sectors last February.

The UAE Minister said that the delegation met with Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb and a group of senior government officials and CEOs of major companies to discuss ways to develop relations and to review bilateral investment possibilities of common interest.

WAM