DUBAI, (Pakistan Point News - 21st Oct, 2018) A delegation led by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently participated in the second UAE-France Economic Forum in Paris, which highlighted strengthening economic ties between the UAE and France, and explored the prospects of expanding bilateral cooperation in the areas of smart cities, renewable energy and investment.
The high-level forum was organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and MEDEF International, in cooperation with the French Embassy in the UAE and the French Business Council. Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber, and Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attended the forum in Paris, along with a delegation of prominent people in business from Dubai.
The event built on the success achieved at the inaugural UAE-France Economic Forum in Dubai, which was attended by Emmanuel Macron, President of France. Several strategic cooperation agreements were also signed during the first edition of the forum.
Addressing delegates at the forum in Paris, Al Ghurair stressed the commitment of the Dubai Chamber to improve UAE-France economic relations and build bridges between business communities on both sides. He noted that the forum had become an ideal platform to foster cooperation, establish joint ventures, and forge valuable partnerships between public and private sector players in France and the UAE.
Al Ghurair explained that the forum in Paris was being held at a pivotal time for both countries, as pro-business economic reforms and efforts to boost trade and foreign investment take effect, and added that the UAE and France share a clear and common vision of building knowledge-based economies that harness innovation and improve the lives of their citizens.
For his part, Buamim noted that France was one of Dubai's top trading partners in Europe, and explained that the scope of Dubai-France non-oil trade had broadened in recent years. He noted that the Dubai Chamber-led trade mission to France succeeded in achieving its objectives of improving UAE-France ties and identifying new bilateral business opportunities.
During the trade mission, delegates visited several prestigious French institutions and innovation centres, where they met with the stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss prospects for future cooperation and partnerships.
Speakers participating in the forum highlighted the benefits that could be achieved by fostering UAE-France cooperation in the areas of smart cities, urban mobility, renewable energy and efficiency, investment partnerships, and cross-border financing, in addition to opportunities being created in the lead up to Expo 2020 Dubai.
