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More Mexican firms to set shop in Dubai
Mexican ambassador Francisco Alonso Escobar

Dubai - Mexican president to visit UAE in January.

by

Bernd Debusmann Jr.

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Published: Sun 13 Dec 2015, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 14 Dec 2015, 7:49 AM

The relationship between the UAE and Mexico is at an all-time high, according to Mexico's ambassador to the country.
On January 18 and 19, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto will visit the UAE, marking the first time a Mexican head-of-state has visited the GCC since President Luis Echaverria visited Saudi Arabia in 1975.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Francisco Alonso Escobar, Mexican Ambassador to the UAE, said the visit is a sign of the increasingly warm relations between the two nations.
"The visit of the president that we've been planning for over a year will have an important effect on our bilateral relations," he said. "The leadership of the UAE is eagerly awaiting the visit, since Mexico is a country of global importance.

Pace of UAE-Mexico bilateral ties picks up> December 9, 2015: Humaid Al Qatami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, meets a Mexican delegation to discuss healthcare cooperation and best practices, particularly with regards to diabetes
> December 8, 2015: Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, receives Mexico City mayor Miguel Mancera.
> April 21, 2014: Shaikh Mohammed visits Mexico and meets President Enrique Pena Nieto to discuss a number of political and economic issues. The occasion marked the first time a UAE Ruler visited Mexico.
"Mexico has much to discuss with the UAE, in particular climate change and renewable energies. Mexico has worked been very active in this matter ... and it is for that reason that the president has been invited as a guest of honour to speak at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week."
Alonso noted that President Pena Nieto is expected to visit Abu Dhabi's low-carbon, eco-friendly Masdar City. He will meet with His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
"We'll also be conducting a business forum in the (Dubai) Chamber of Commerce for a number of important business people," the ambassador added.
The presidential visit follows a number of other events between the two countries. Most recently, on December 8, Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, received Mexico City mayor Miguel Mancera. The following day, Humaid Al Qatami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, met with a Mexican delegation to discuss healthcare cooperation and best practices, particularly with regards to diabetes.
In April 2014, Shaikh Mohammed visited Mexico, where he met with President Pena Nieto to discuss a number of political and economic issues. The occasion marked the first time a UAE Ruler visited Mexico.
Alonso noted that in March, a series of "Dubai Business Forums" will be held in three major Mexican cities, following a successful Dubai Business Forum that was held in Mexico City in November in which the Dubai Investment Development Agency CEO, Fahad Al Gergawi, participated.
"Businesses from a variety of sectors will be represented, including food, pharmaceutical, chemical and renewable energy companies," Alonso said. "We've been giving the public guidance on how to establish Mexican companies in the UAE, particularly Dubai. Dubai can serve as a platform from which to expand to the entire region."
According to Mexican embassy statistics, at least 2,000 Mexican nationals now call the UAE home, although the number may be as high as 4,000, as Mexicans are not required to register with their embassy.
"They work in different areas. There are many Mexican pilots working in Etihad, Emirates and FlyDubai, as well a large number of architects, lawyers, engineers and oil workers," Alonso noted. "Every day more and more Mexicans come. There is enormous interest."
Although Mexico and the UAE first established formal diplomatic relations in 1975, it was not until 2007 that a diplomatic mission - a consulate in Dubai - was opened, which was replaced by an embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2012. The UAE, for its part, opened its embassy in Mexico City in 2010.
bernd@khaleejtimes.com


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