DUBAI: Organized by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and attended by His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al-Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, His Excellency Janusz Piechocinski, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland and Minister of Economy, and His Excellency Mohammed Helal Al-Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, the UAE-Poland Business Forum kicked off in Abu Dhabi.
More than 250 companies and businessmen operating in the UAE and Poland attended the meeting as well.
At the beginning of the forum, H.E. Al-Mansouri delivered a speech in which he said that the economic relations between the UAE and Poland go way back to more than two decades. “Today we gather together after 22 years since we signed our first economic agreement between the two countries,” he said, adding: “Since then, our bilateral economic relations grew considerably year after year, and over the past few years, these relations grew rapidly and we expect the volume of trade exchange between the two sides to reach $1.3 billion in 2014 with 160% increase compared to the numbers registered in 2012 which were around $500 million.”
Al-Mansouri emphasized that the UAE has become a key hub in the Middle East and a bridge that links the east with the west thanks to a number of factors starting with political stability and security in addition to an advanced infrastructure and flexible laws and legislations. “And now our country has become a regional headquarter for more than 25% of the biggest 500 companies in the world.”
He added “In regard to Poland, last January Can-Pack Group opened a factory specialized in aluminum drink cans in the UAE with an investment of around $55 million. This is another proof on the trust of Polish investors have in the attracting environment of the UAE and the facilities it provides.”
The UAE Minister of Economy pointed out that the development of the UAE and its success is supported by the reports of the biggest international agencies and global credibility. “To give a brief on the place of the UAE on the international indexes, I would like to point to the following: The UAE ranked 12 in the Global Competitiveness Report in regard to GCI by sustainability indicators in 2014 which was released by the World Economic Forum. The UAE also ranked first in the Arab world and 22nd globally in the Ease of Doing Business Report which was issued by the World Bank. Finally, the UAE won the Aa2 rating which is the highest in the Middle East according to Moody’s Investors Services Credit Rating. The UAE is also topping the world in regard to the safety and security of civil aviation,” he said.
For his part, His Excellency Mohammed Helal Al-Muhairi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, emphasized on the importance of holding this forum and how it would contribute to developing cooperation relations between companies operating in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE with their polish counterparts.
In a press statement, H.E. Al-Muhairi said that the UAE-Poland Business Forum will be a distinguished opportunity for businessmen, companies and investors in the UAE and Poland to view the available capabilities and opportunities in all sectors in both countries.
The Director General added that the event will be a unique opportunity to inform the Emirati companies and businessmen with the available investment opportunities and the incentives which the related authorities in Poland provide.
Al-Muhairi called on Polish Industrial companies to increase their investments in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, especially in the sectors and fields that are envisioned by the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
