Lubna for Strong Trade Ties with Sweden

STOCKHOLM - United Arab Emirates Foreign Trade Minister Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi on Thursday evening met with her Swedish counterpart, Ewa Bjorling to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to boost them in various areas, particularly in trade and investment.

By (Wam)

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Sun 8 Feb 2009, 12:51 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 3:54 AM

UAE Ambassador to Sweden, Shaikha Najla Mohammed Al Qasimi and Chairman of both the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Salah Salim bin Omair Al Shamsi, were also present at the meeting during which the two sides also discussed developments in the free trade agreement negotiations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU), the global financial crisis and its effect oninternational trade.

Shaikha Lubna thanked her host for the invitation to visit Sweden, which, she said, was a great opportunity to discuss various issues of mutual interest to the two sides and to discuss cooperation in joint investment projects, adding that the UAE boasts of advanced and friendly investment environment which made it the most open in the Middle East and the preferred business hub for international companies.

She said the UAE provides a fertile market for Swedish companies in various sectors to expand their business activities in the Middle East and Asia regions. She reviewed with her host economic development in the UAE and the country’s plans in the development of its infrastructure and its economic diversification strategy.

She said the UAE’s non-oil sector makes generous contribution to the country’s GDP, accounting for more then 64 per cent of the GDP in 2007.

Al-Shamsi, for his part, made a brief presentation about the UAE’s efforts to face squarely the effect of the global financial crisis. He called for unified and concerted global efforts to counter the crisis, which, he said, no single country can undo it alone.

Women’s Achievements

Shaikha Lubna also met with the Second Deputy Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, Brigita Celine. They discussed achievements made by women in the UAE and the situation of women in the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Shaikha Lubna said women have attained high positions in the UAE and made a lot of significant achievements through the political capacity building programme spearheaded by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, adding that Emirati women are now holding high offices and making significant contributions to the country’s development and modernisation drive.

She noted that women now account for 66 per cent of government employees, form a significant percentage of higher office holders in the country and represent about 59 per cent of UAE work force.


More news from