Belgian economic mission aimed at strengthening economic ties and expanding collaboration with historic trading partner, UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE - A Belgian delegation comprised of over 400 business men and women and 6 Government ministers, led by HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium, representative of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, will head to Abu Dhabi and Dubai for a three-day trade mission beginning Tuesday March 24th, 2015. In Abu Dhabi, members of the delegation will meet with dignitaries and senior officials from the UAE government, Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce (ADCC), Abu Dhabi and Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA). In Dubai, the delegation will visit the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, DP World, Dubai World Central, and Dubai Expo 2020. The delegation will participate in working sessions and seminars with public and private sector stakeholders from across the UAE during the course of their visit.
The visiting delegation will hold a series of meetings aimed at strengthening the UAE-Belgium bilateral relationship, expanding economic ties and cooperation, and promoting opportunities for further cooperation in the finance, healthcare, energy, tourism, pharmaceutical, logistics, construction and sustainable technologies sectors.
Commenting on the visit, H.E. Dominique Mineur, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in the UAE said: "The UAE is a valuable ally and trading partner to Belgium, and we greatly treasure our historic links. Our successful partnerships across business, education and culture play an important role in contributing to the future prosperity of the UAE. For over forty years, we have worked to cultivate a deep, meaningful relationship with the UAE, and very much look forward to growing and evolving our links in the years to come."
Official diplomatic relations between the UAE and Belgium began in 1973 and the first Belgian Embassy inaugurated subsequently in 1978. The volume of trade between the two nations has evolved significantly--according to figures in 2014 alone, the total non-oil trade between UAE and Belgium reached $7.74 billion, or 9 per cent of the total trade with the European Union, which stood at $42.5 billion during the same period.
Ambassador Mineur continued: "The UAE's leadership has created the conditions that ensure a favorable business climate, world-class infrastructure, versatile investment laws and multi-cultural population. The UAE has become the bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa. Belgium, on the other hand, has one the most open and industrialized economy in the world, world-class infrastructures and a highly productive workforce. Belgium is the logical gateway to Europe's 500 million consumers market. In this context, our relationship with the UAE continues to develop and we are confident that together--our political, economic and cultural relationship--will deepen and flourish."
The last large-scale Belgian economic mission to the UAE took place in 2009. It was led by the-Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Belgium, now King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.
The delegation will be led by HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium, Representative of His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium, and include senior members of Government including: HE Didier Reynders, Federal Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs; HE Marie-Christine Marghem, Federal Minister of Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development; HE Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, Flemish Minister for Foreign Policy and Immovable Heritage; HE Jean-Claude Marcourt, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, SME's, Foreign Trade and New Technologies of the Walloon Regional Government and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Higher Education of the French Community Government; HE Pieter De Crem, Federal Secretary of State for Foreign Trade; HE Cécile Jodogne, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade and Investment for the Brussels-Capital Region and Minister of the French Community Commission in charge of Civil Service and Health Policy; in addition to leaders of the Belgian private sector.
According to the UAE Ministry of Economy, there are 34 registered Belgian companies operating in the UAE, with 54 commercial agencies, in addition to 551 trade brands. Belgium is currently the UAE's 11th most important trading partner, ranks 3rd among countries receiving re-exports from the UAE.
Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in the United Arab Emirates
Al Masaood Tower (6th floor) Hamdan Street
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
P.O. Box 3686
www.belgianeconomicmission.be/
https://www.facebook.com/diplobelabudhabi
http://diplomatie.belgium.be/united_arab_emirates/
For further information, please contact:
Haneen Aweidah
H+K Strategies
02-4472805
0097156-6551205
Haneen.aweidah@hkstrategies.com
© Press Release 2015
