The Ministry of Economy holds UAE – Greece Business Forum in Athens

Forum explores cooperation opportunities in energy, tourism, agricultural food and logistics

The UAE – Greece Business Forum has been held yesterday in Athens, Greece. The forum was chaired by HE Engineer Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy; and the Greek Economy, Development and Shipping Minister, George Stathakis, in the presence of Sultan Mohammad Majid Ali, UAE Ambassador to Greece and a high-level group of representatives of government entities and the private sector from both sides.

The forum was held as a part of the official visit of the UAE delegation headed by the Minister of Economy to Athens which aims to strengthening economic and trade joint relations. The UAE delegation included HE Engineer Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Economic Affairs; HE Juma Mohammed Al Kait, UAE Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Trade; and Mohammed Nasser Hamdan Al Zaabi, Director of the Trade Promotion Department and Investment Department at MoE.

As participated in the forum HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Group (DP World), HE Marwan Al Serkal, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development (Sunrise), and HE Eng Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Export Development, HE Khadim Abdullah Darie, Vice Chairman, agricultural phenomenon Inc., and Mr. Khamis Juma Bu Amim, a member of the board of Directors and managing Director and CEO of the group of Gulf Navigation Holding, Mr. Juma Obaid Mubarak, Group Chief Executive of Mubarak Marine, Mr. Mohammed Tahir ruby head of the agency Dubai trade Dr Sulaiman Al-Naimi, along with a number representatives of parties and organizations from various economic sectors.

The forum’s agenda has witnessed the participation of HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World; HE Marwan Al Serkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority – Shurooq; HE Eng Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Export Development Corporation; HE Khadim Abdulla Aldarei is the Vice Chairman of the Al Dahra Agriculture; Khamis Juma Buamim, Board Member, Managing Director and CEO of Gulf Navigation Holding (GulfNav); Juma Obaid Mubarak, CEO  of Mubarak Marine; Mohammed Tahir Lakhani, Chairman of Dubai Trading Agency; and Dr. Sulaiman Al-Naimi, along with a number of representatives of entities and organizations from various economic sectors.

The UAE – Greece Business Forum, which was organized by the UAE Ministry of Economy with cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Economy, has discussed ways to enhance cooperation in infrastructure, logistics, tourism, agriculture, food industry and energy sectors, with focus on the most prominent offered investment opportunities and the areas available to investors and businessmen so as to develop partnerships that serve the development goals of the two countries.

Engineer Al Mansoori has stressed the keenness of the UAE to promote economic and trade relations with Greece, especially in light of the historical ties of friendship between the two countries. This will open the way for further cooperation, especially in energy, transport, aviation, logistics, tourism, agriculture and food industry sectors, in addition to the small and medium ventures, which are a fundamental pillar of the national economy growth.

Al Mansoori pointed out to the UAE's commitment to support all forms of cooperation in order to uplift the economic relations and trade exchange with Greece, which accounted USD 270 million in 2015.

During his opening speech, HE George Stathakis, Minister of the Greek Economy, has stressed his country's interest to promote and strengthen economic ties with the UAE in various economic, trade and investment sectors.

In a related context, HE Engineer Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, has held a bilateral meeting with Yannis Dragasakis, Vice-President of the Government, during which the two sides have discussed the areas of cooperation in the next stage and ways to deepen economic ties in sectors of common interest.