UAE Minister of Economy Discusses Boosting Bilateral Cooperation with Belgium

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 29 March, 2015 – The UAE Minister of Economy His Excellency Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri met with Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, representative of the King Philip of Belgium, who is currently leading a high-profile visiting business delegation to the UAE.

The meeting at Ministry of Economy offices in Dubai was also attended by Didier Reynders, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, His Excellency Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary for Industry and Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Economy and His Excellency Sulaiman Hamid Al Mazroui, the UAE Ambassador to Belgium. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and establishing stronger synergies in trade and investment cooperation between the UAE and Belgium.

Al Mansouri commended the growing strength of relations between the two friendly countries and noted that the exceptional development during the last few years was due to the relentless efforts of both sides. The minister reiterated the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai that the leadership and people of the UAE were keen to establish cultural and humanitarian links with different countries around the world based on friendship, mutual respect, and common interests.

For her part, Princess Astrid applauded the UAE’s tremendous economic achievements and stressed the importance of further accelerating bilateral synergy between the UAE and Belgium.

Non-oil trade between the UAE and Belguim reached US$7.743 billion in 2013, which comprises 9% of the total UAE trade with the European Union. Belguim ranks 11th on the list of most important trading partners for the UAE and is number three on the list of countries receiving UAE re-exports.