UAE heading to Italy to talk business

UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri and Italian Ambassador to the UAE Liborio Stellino have discussed ways to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
This came during a meeting held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy in Abu Dhabi to discuss preparations for convening the fifth session of the UAE-Italy Joint Economic Commission to be held this week in Milan, in the presence of Eng Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Economic Affairs.
Al Mansouri will head the high-level delegation to Italy in an extended visit from October 18 to 21, where he will meet senior officials of the Italian government.
The delegation will include a number of officials of local and federal institutions, businessmen and investors.
The UAE-Italy Joint Economic Commission, co-headed by Al Mansouri and his Italian counterpart, will explore all opportunities of joint cooperation and ways to enhance them. The UAE pavilion at Expo Milan 2015 will host the commission.
Al Mansouri said "the visit is very important for the two countries in the light of the strong strategic ties between them". He reiterated the importance of Italy as a strategic partner for the UAE, noting that it is the second-largest trade partner for the UAE among European countries.
Al Mansouri mentioned that the trade exchange between the two countries stood at about Dh30 billion in 2014, while the registered businesses at the Ministry of Economy until the end of 2014 totalled 118 companies, 478 commercial agencies and about 7,452 brands. - Wam