DUBAI: A Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry-organized trade mission leaves for the Czech capital of Prague at the beginning of a tour of both the Czech and Slovak Republics from April 20 to 24.
Led by H.E. Sultan Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, the trade mission includes H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, and over 20 Chamber officials and business leaders. Its aim is to discuss investment opportunities with friendly countries, as well as to support national efforts to promote the competitiveness of UAE business community in general and Dubai in particular in the overseas markets.
Al Mansouri said: “We express our gratitude to Dubai Chamber officials for their efforts in organizing this trade mission as the Ministry of Economy supports all outstanding national initiatives to enhance bilateral cooperation with various friendly countries in the world. This also contributes to attracting foreign direct investments to the UAE while strengthening the presence of local companies in emerging markets besides providing them unprecedented opportunities for expansion and growth in the global business arena.
“We enjoy very good friendly relations with the Czech and Slovak Republics and this trade mission with its aim to strengthen economic cooperation is in line with the strong political relations enjoyed by the three countries,” said Al Mansouri.
He added, “Trade with the Czech Republic amounted to USD454.4 million in 2013, while with the Slovak Republic, it valued at USD202 million in the same year. We expect these figures to improve in the near future by exploring mutual investment opportunities and through strengthening the presence of Czech and Slovakian products in the UAE markets and vice-versa.”
The delegation also includes H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, UAE Ministry of Economy, H.E. Humaid Mohammad bin Salem, General-Secretary, UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Jamal Al Hai, Chairman and Owner, Al Hai Group, H.E. Yahya Saeed bin Ahmed, CEO, S.S. Lootah Group, H.E. Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Fahim, CEO, Paris Gallery, Abdullah Sharafi, President, Gerab National Enterprises, Ahmed bin Eisa Al Serkal, Vice Chairman, Nasser Bin Abdullatif Al Serkal Est., Ismail Akil Abbasi, Chairman, Abbasi Group of Companies, and Pavel Foubik, President, Czech Business Council, which operates under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber.
H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber stated that the trade mission will help explore joint investment opportunities and will lay the foundation of a strong partnership between the business communities of the UAE, the Czech Republic and Slovakia as the trade mission is also a part of the ongoing strategy of the Chamber in promoting the competitiveness of UAE businesses in emerging markets of the world.
He further stated that Dubai can be a hub for Czech and Slovak companies wishing to enter the markets of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the African continent due to its strategic location and logistics and infrastructural benefits offered to investors as he also stressed on the Chamber’s commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of Dubai’s business community by supporting their investment outreach in lucrative global markets.
The trade delegation, which consists of businessmen from real estate, construction, textiles, automobile, finance, oil and gas and heavy industry, healthcare, tourism and hospitality sectors, will attend business forums, bilateral meetings and roundtable discussions on mutual investment opportunities in promising target sectors, especially in tourism, health care, infrastructure, industry and health tourism with prominent Czech and Slovak officials and will be followed by site visits.
