|
High ranking UAE trade delegation
concludes Kurdistan Region visit
23.5.2010
Report by Mariwan Faydullah Salihi for ekurd.net
|
|
|
|
Kurdistan President Barzani: "We are keenly
interested in benefiting from the UAE's outstanding
experience in co-existence, prosperity and
development"
May
23, 2010
ERBIL-Hewlęr,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — The United Arab Emirates
[UAE], headed by their Foreign Trade Minister,
concluded a two-day visit by a high ranking trade
delegation to Erbil, capital of Iraq's Kurdistan
Region, exploring ways to promote trade, economic,
investment projects and other agreements between the
two sisterly nations.
The Emirati delegation consisted of 48 high ranking
officials –headed by UAE's Foreign Trade Minister
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi – and included several
prominent businessmen, investors and heads of
companies from the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
member state.
The visit started on May 18 with the arrival of the
delegation to Erbil, who also paid a visit to Iraq's
Kurdistan Region President, Massoud Barzani; Sheikha
Lubna Al Qasimi was received by President Barzani in
Salahaddin resort, alongside her accompanying
delegation.
"We do hold great respect for and appreciation of
the leadership, government, people of the United
Arab Emirates," President Barzani told the
delegation, while adding:" Promoting brotherly solid
relations with the UAE is among the priorities of
Kurdistan Region in particular, and Iraq in general,
who are keenly interested in benefiting from the
UAE's outstanding experience in co-existence,
prosperity and development. The Kurdish President
wished Sheikha Lubna and the accompanying delegation
a successful and fruitful visit.
For her part, Sheikha Lubna, on behalf of the UAE
Government and the high-profile delegation,
expressed gratitude to President Baazani for the
|
Kurdistan PM Barham Salih and UAE Foreign Trade
Minister Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi at Saad Abdullah
Conference Palace in Erbil on Wednesday, May 19.
2010. Photo:Mariwan Faydullah Salihi,
ekurd.net
 |
hospitality and warm
welcome accorded by the Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) to the members of the delegation
upon arrival. She said we are quite happy to be in
Iraq's Kurdistan Region.
Part of the UAE trade delegation in Saad Abdullah
Conference Palace in Erbil on Wednesday, May 19,
2010. Photo: Mariwan Faydullah
Salihi, ekurd.net
"The UAE is aware of
Kurdistan Region's security, prosperity and business
opportunity," Sheikha Lubna told "The Kurdish
Globe."
She also said that the main aim of her visit to
Kurdistan Region is to translate the ideas and
shared visions reached during the visit of Barham
Salih, Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region, to the
UAE last February, on trade, economic, investment
projects and agreements in the interest of the two
countries.
Sheikha Lubna stressed the importance of the
delegation's visit to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,
referring to UAE's keenness to promote trade,
investment and economic cooperation with Iraq.
Emiratis "impressed" with
Kurdistan
On Wednesday, May 19 - the last day of trip, a large
trade conference was held between both sides at the
Martyr Saad Abdullah Conference Palace in the
capital Erbil. Several senior officials from the KRG
and the Federal Iraqi Government, alongside local
and UAE businessmen and investors attended the
gathering.
"We pay full attention to Kurdistan, we are here to
deepen relations and to do more investment in the
region," Sheikha Lubna told the conference.
Many Emirati investors and businessmen hailed
Kurdistan Region's security and booming economy.
"Kurdistan is very impressing," noted Abdullah
Belhoul, Managing Director of Dubai Industrial City
[a Dubai Holding company]. "The state-of-the art
facilities, including the new Erbil International
Airport, conference facilities and the rest of the
infrastructure are very encouraging," Belhoul said
to "The Kurdish Globe."
Another potential Emirati investor, Edris S. Haboosh
– Senior Vice President of Atlas Telecom, said that
he looked forward to do business in Kurdistan
Region. "It seems that Erbil is ahead with
development in Iraq."
Kurdistan will facilitate
UAE investments
Meanwhile, Kurdistan Region Trade Minister pledged
full support to UAE investments in the area. Sinan
Chalabi said the KRG would support and facilitate
more for the UAE investors who want to do business
in Kurdistan Region.
Part of the UAE trade delegation in Saad Abdullah
Conference Palace in Erbil on Wednesday, May 19,
2010. Photo: Mariwan Faydullah
Salihi, ekurd.net
"The visit from the
UAE delegation, besides deepening commercial
relations, is also a renewing of pledge between us,"
mentioned Chalabi.
For his part, Kurdistan's Prime Minister, Barham
Salih, told UAE investors that his region is an
excellent opportunity for them. According to Salih,www.ekurd.netKurdistan
Region has a per capita income of more than US$
4,500 – more than 30% higher than the rest of Iraq –
meaning the region has an important consumer market.
"Kurdistan is open and welcomes you," he said to the
UAE delegation while concluding his speech.
Large UAE companies currently operating in Kurdistan
Region, include Dana Gas - the Arab World's largest
private gas company, DNATA (providing services at
the new international terminal in Erbil) and Rotana,
managing a new five-star hotel located in Erbil, due
to open in September this year.
UAE investments in Kurdistan Region and the rest of
Iraq mainly concentrate on the oil and gas sector,
tourism, aviation, retail and real-estate projects.
In 2009, Iraq ranked 11th in the UAE's global trade
partners and second only [after Saudi Arabia] in the
Arab World. The volume of non oil trade exchange
amounted last year to more than five billion
dollars, constituting 2.8 per cent of total UAE
foreign trade, compared to three billion dollars in
2008 – a dramatic increase of 63% despite the global
economical recession.
The UAE is classified as a high income developing
economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The per capita income of the oil-rich country is put
at US$ 47,000 by the IMF – roughly ten times higher
than Iraq's Kurdistan Region – making it one of the
richest nations in the world.
Mariwan
Faydullah Salihi, journalist at
Kurdish Globe and Rudaw in Erbil/Iraqi Kurdistan and
regular eKurd.net contributing writer. You may reach the author via email at: mariwan.journalist (at) gmail.com
Copyright © 2010 ekurd.net
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
®
