UAE, German Ministers Discuss Arrangements for Next Meeting

Sultan Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, and Michael Link, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, discussed arrangements for holding the UAE-Germany joint economic ministerial committee next June in Germany. Al Mansouri said during the meeting that economic changes the world is experiencing today in light of the European financial crisis require the two countries to consolidate frameworks for joint cooperation, unify efforts and elevate level of cooperation in various fields with the aim of addressing economic shifts with high efficiency and benefiting, at the same time, from massive potentials both national economies can offer in friendly, attractive investment climate, and flexible economic policies based on diversification and openness.

The German minister said the UAE is Germany's most important economic partner in the Middle East given its vibrant economy which offers packages of incentives and strengths qualifying it to build strategic economic partnerships with major countries including Germany. He lauded the international prominent status the UAE has earned and its qualitative achievements in all walks of life under a well-planned strategy for modernisation.

The two ministers tackled during the meeting an array of issues including training and education, trade and investment, SMEs, technology and innovation, intellectual property rights, industry, civil aviation and air transport, knowledge economy, and renewable energy. Last year, the UAE welcomed about nine million tourists from across the world with the number of German holidaymakers accounting for more than 5%, which is expected to go up in near future.