UAE seeks to ramp up ties with Germany: Mansouri

30/05/2016 05:12 AST

Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister for Economy, has stressed the importance of boosting cooperation between the UAE and Germany in the aviation sector.

Al Mansouri said in a statement on Saturday that such cooperation would drive both countries’ commercial relations forward and provide greater access for new markets as both countries enjoy strategic locations.

Trade between the UAE and Germany touched Dhs57 billion in 2015. Al Mansouri made his remarks during a meeting with Dr.Peter Ramsauer, a member of the German Parliament and President of the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on the sidelines of the Arab-German Business Forum held in Berlin.

Al Mansouri highlighted the importance of pushing UAE-German cooperation forward to cement their economic ties as both sides have a number of sectors of mutual interest, including start-ups and medium businesses.

He said that the UAE attaches the utmost importance to entrepreneurs and is always keen to provide them with the appropriate investment environment, which is in line with the UAE’s vision to diversify sources of income and transform to a knowledge-based economy.

Al Mansouri pointed out that the UAE seeks to boost cooperation with Germany in the industrial sector as well and benefit from Germany’s expertise as part of efforts to attract unique industrial investments that would contribute to the national economy.

He added that the Arab-German Business Forum has been given a great opportunity to upgrade cooperation between Arab businesspeople and their German counterparts.

Calling on Germany to send more economic delegations to the UAE, Al Mansouri stressed the importance of participating in economic events organised by both sides in order to gain a clearer understanding of available investment opportunities and explore new avenues to enhance cooperation.

The forum witnessed impressive engagement from the UAE’s delegation during most of the panel sessions that ran for two days.

Speaking on the occasion, Marwan Bin Jasem Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, said, “Shurooq’s participation in the forum comes in line with its efforts to expand economic cooperation with Germany and aims to give the German businessmen ideas about the most important investment sectors in Sharjah and its facilities to investors.”

The Gulf Today